By Ben McLeod (CNW) -Joshua Bishop produced a sensational finish at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, smashing a six with two balls remaining to propel the Saint Lucia Kings to a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in a rain-disrupted Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League encounter on Friday.
The Kings appeared to have surrendered control of a revised eight-over chase when they crashed to 21 for six. But Matthew Forde and Shadley van Schalkwyk kept the home side within striking distance before Bishop seized the moment and completed a remarkable recovery.
Needing eight runs from Joshua James’ final over, the Kings immediately began to turn the pressure back on the Falcons. Bishop drilled a powerful drive through the covers to cut into the deficit, then waited for a length delivery before launching it over the boundary for six.
The winning blow triggered a roar from the home crowd as Saint Lucia secured its second victory over Antigua and Barbuda this season.
Forde sets the tone
The foundation for the Kings’ victory was laid with the ball.
Captain Roston Chase won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that paid immediate dividends as Forde ripped through the Falcons’ top order during the PowerPlay.
The Kings’ seamer dismissed Evin Lewis and Tim Robinson with successive deliveries before accounting for Rahkeem Cornwall, leaving Antigua and Barbuda struggling at 44 for three after six overs.
The Falcons’ problems deepened soon afterward. Three more wickets fell in the space of seven deliveries, including a spectacular dismissal when Charith Asalanka produced a brilliant catch to remove Moeen Ali. Fabian Allen was then run out without scoring.
Forde ultimately finished with outstanding figures of four for 29, but rain intervened with one over still remaining in the Falcons’ innings.
Rain changes everything
After a lengthy interruption, the Kings were initially handed a target of 84 from 15 overs.
Chase opened alongside Andries Gous, but the captain’s stay was brief as Jayden Seales removed him early. One delivery later, the rain returned, forcing another revision, this time reducing the chase to 52 from eight overs.
What followed was a frantic sprint in which every delivery carried enormous significance.
The Falcons seized the initiative as the Kings struggled to find momentum and wickets continued to tumble. James was particularly damaging, removing Asalanka and Darren Nedd with consecutive deliveries to leave Saint Lucia reeling.
At 21 for six, the Kings looked destined for defeat.
Forde and Van Schalkwyk keep hope alive
Yet the home side refused to fold.
Forde chipped in with a crucial 11, providing the stability needed to keep the chase alive. Van Schalkwyk then changed the complexion of the contest in the penultimate over, launching a six that suddenly made the improbable chase seem achievable.
That set the stage for Bishop.
With eight needed from the final over, the pressure was immense, but the left-hander remained composed. His boundary through the covers narrowed the gap before his towering six off James’ delivery finished the job.
From 21 for six to victory in the final over, the Kings had transformed what seemed an almost certain defeat into one of the most dramatic finishes of their season.
