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Saint Lucia Kings Clinch First CPL 2025 Victory in Last-Ball Thriller Against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
Kings Register Much-Needed Win in High-Scoring Encounter
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 produced another nail-biting clash as Saint Lucia Kings secured their first win of the season by edging past St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (SNP) in a last-ball finish at Gros Islet. After setting a competitive total of 200, the Kings held their nerve in a tense final over to walk away with a narrow 3-run victory.
Having lost their opening two matches, the Kings were under immense pressure to turn their campaign around. Their batting unit, powered by Roston Chase, Johnson Charles, and Tim David, delivered the fireworks early on, while the bowlers showed composure in crunch moments to deny SNP what looked like a likely win.
Johnson Charles and Roston Chase Lead the Way for Kings
Explosive PowerPlay Sets the Tone
The Kings got off to a flying start thanks to Johnson Charles, who tore into the SNP attack during the PowerPlay. Charles smashed 47 runs out of the 60 scored in the first six overs, punishing Jason Holder and Fazalhaq Farooqi with a mix of clean hitting and controlled aggression. Although he departed soon after reaching his half-century, the momentum had already swung in favor of the Kings.
Chase and David’s Crucial Partnership
With wickets tumbling at the other end, Roston Chase played the anchor role while also accelerating at key stages. Chase reached a fluent 50 off just 30 balls, combining power with placement. He found a reliable partner in Tim David, who overcame a slow start to launch a brutal counter-attack, striking consecutive sixes off Holder before eventually miscuing one.
Their 86-run stand proved vital in taking Saint Lucia Kings to the 200-run mark, though SNP did manage to restrict the scoring rate in the final three overs.
(Related: CPL 2025 Match Reports and Highlights)
Patriots’ Chase: Holder’s Brilliance and Bidaisee’s Grit
Top-Order Collapse Puts SNP in Trouble
Chasing 201, SNP began brightly with Andre Fletcher and Kyle Mayers attacking early to race past 40 inside four overs. But their progress was halted when David Wiese and Khary Pierre triggered a collapse, reducing the Patriots to 66/4 within the first nine overs.
Holder’s Power-Hitting Turns the Game
Just when the game appeared to be slipping away, Jason Holder mounted a stunning counter-attack. The all-rounder blasted 63 runs off 26 balls, dismantling Tabraiz Shamsi with two sixes and a four in a single over. Holder’s onslaught brought the required rate down dramatically, and at one stage, he was striking at well over 200.
However, his dismissal to Chase in the 15th over swung the pendulum back in the Kings’ favor.
Bidaisee’s Debut Fifty Falls Short in Dramatic Finish
On his CPL debut, Navian Bidaisee endured a nervy start, crawling to 9 off 16 balls. But he found his rhythm at the perfect time, smashing sixes off Joseph and Wiese to keep the chase alive. He eventually reached a fighting half-century, showing maturity beyond his years.
With 13 needed off the last over, Bidaisee cleared the ropes again to bring the equation down to 6 from 5 deliveries. However, Jyd Goolie’s failure to rotate strike in the final over left the rookie with too much pressure. Off the last ball, needing 4 to win, Bidaisee attempted a big hit but could only find Tim David at long-on, who held his nerve to complete the catch.
The narrow 3-run win gave Saint Lucia Kings their first points of CPL 2025, while SNP were left ruing missed opportunities despite heroic efforts from Holder and Bidaisee.
Brief Scores
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Saint Lucia Kings: 200/8 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 61, Johnson Charles 52; Kyle Mayers 2/24)
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St Kitts and Nevis Patriots: 197/6 in 20 overs (Jason Holder 63, Navian Bidaisee 50; Khary Pierre 2/25)
Result: Saint Lucia Kings won by 3 runs.
What This Means for CPL 2025
This victory lifts the Kings off the bottom of the table and gives them much-needed confidence heading into their next fixture. For SNP, despite flashes of brilliance, their inability to close out tight games remains a concern. With the tournament still in its early stages, both teams will look to iron out their weaknesses as the race for the playoffs intensifies.
For fans and analysts alike, this clash was a reminder of why the CPL is regarded as one of the most exciting T20 leagues in the world (official CPL website).
