END OF OVER:20 | 9 Runs | STKNP: 115/7 (60 runs required, RR: 5.75)
- Imran Khan5 (7b)
- Rayad Emrit13 (10b)
- Anderson Phillip3-0-24-0
- Sikandar Raza3-0-15-3
Thanks for joining me, Ranjith, Thilak and Sreshth today, and remember to check out Sreshth's report. Tune in later tonight when PDP and Danyal will be here to bring you coverage of Guyana v St Lucia - whoever wins that will put themselves in the box seat to join TKR in the semis.
Here are the captains. Rayad Emrit: "I'm lost for words. We've seen why TKR have been so dominant and why we are where we are. We couldn't get anything right. They totally outplayed us in all departments. [Imran Khan?] I still think it was the right choice at that moment. We had certain plans against certain batters. Our bowlers didn't execute when we wanted them to. [Happy with approach in chase?] Of course not. It's been hard work for all the batters but nobody has put their hand up. We've had two fifties in the whole tournament. We're just not executing. As a leader I can only do so much."
DJ Bravo: "I'm very happy. To see the likes of Tambe come in, Akeal, Khary - we won the game when we dominated in the PP with the ball. Lendl's innings started very slow but the partnership between him and Darren laid the foundation. Anything above 160 is always good. As a batter, once you've made runs you'll feel confident. The team supports Lendl 100% regardless of his form. As a team, we don't let him feel that pressure. That will only do well for his confidence. He showed his class today. I think everyone is happy for each other's success. We encourage players to play with the right attitude and intensity. Every time we play a cricket game we have to learn. We had four changes today, but you wouldn't think we had any changes. We haven't won the tournament but I think all TKR fans would be happy with the cricket that we're playing."
Lendl Simmons is POTM. "I've been struggling for the past couple of games. I didn't get the start to the tournament I wanted but the team was winning. [Pitch?] At first you need to give yourself a chance and get in. That's what I did, then I blasted off at the back end. I bat well with Bravo and Pollard, we grew up batting together so I'm accustomed batting to these guys. I'd had three 90s in CPL so far. I thought in the last over I'd get a boundary but it didn't happen. DJ said: congrats, your form is coming back. It augurs well for the team that I'm finding some form, with Narine to come back into the team. We're unbeaten so far. Today we didn't play our best XI but it just goes to show the men on the bench are as good as the best XI."
2.12pm: And that completes one of the most comprehensive T20 wins you're likely to see. Patriots are a complete mess, and that pretty much seals their fate for the season. TKR rested Pollard and Narine and lost Munro early to a blow on the hand, and yet still took the two points without really getting out of second gear. Chris Lynn's innings was painful viewing in the run chase, and Rayad Emrit's decision not to give his legspinner Imran Khan a single over was frankly bizarre. For TKR, Simmons made his first half-century of the tournament and eventually fell for 96, while the spinners did the heavy lifting in the chase, ensuring the rate soared early on. Good stuff from Pravin Tambe, the 48-year-old Indian legspinner, while there were wickets for Raza (x3), Pierre, Hosein and Bravo.
61 off 1...
Isaac Marshall: "It boggles my mind that Emrit didn't even give Imran an over. The guy is in the form of his life on a pitch like this."
Ryan: "Edge of my seat for this final over!!" -- You and me both. Nail-biter.
Anderson Phillip returns, looking for a couple of cheap wickets
Last over coming up, and just the 69 runs required.
END OF OVER:19 | 8 Runs | STKNP: 106/7 (69 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.57, RRR: 69.00)
- Rayad Emrit6 (8b)
- Imran Khan3 (3b)
- Sikandar Raza3-0-15-3
- Akeal Hosein4-0-15-1
"Ohhhh Raza! Yes boy!" cries Seifert
Raza to bowl the 19th.
END OF OVER:18 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | STKNP: 98/7 (77 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.44, RRR: 38.50)
- Imran Khan0 (1b)
- Rayad Emrit1 (4b)
- Akeal Hosein4-0-15-1
- Sikandar Raza2-0-7-3
Imran Khan. A specialist No. 9 today. Three slips!
AS Joseph st †Seifert b Hosein 1 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25.00
Hosein. "Go on Akeal," urges Seifert
Abhishek: "A dozen maximums will do nicely for the Patriots here..." -- Would still need 9 off the last 6!
Cameron: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but Patriots came in with 6 bowlers, none of which really has high finishing potential? They put everything onto Lynn and Lewis to fire today" -- They are a complete mess. Imran Khan not bowling a single over summed them up.
END OF OVER:17 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | STKNP: 94/6 (81 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.52, RRR: 27.00)
- Rayad Emrit0 (2b)
- Alzarri Joseph0 (1b)
- Sikandar Raza2-0-7-3
- Khary Pierre4-0-28-1
Emrit at No. 8
DC Drakes c & b Sikandar Raza 7 (7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00
Isaac Marshall: "Sikandar Raza has been underused this year but the team is stacked. You may think he's just an offspinner but he bowls a huge number of leg breaks and I have seen a few medium cutters in the past. He also can bat anywhere from opener to finisher!"