Man-of-the-Match Rahkeem Cornwall struck an astonishing century as Barbados Royals completed the third-highest run chase in Caribbean Premier League history with a remarkable eight-wicket victory over St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Asked to overhaul 221 , the hosts stormed to their target with 11 balls to spare, with the burly Cornwall smashing 102 off 48 deliveries to notch his maiden Twenty20 hundred.
The 30-year-old hit 4 fours and a dozen sixes, racing to his half-century off just 23 balls with 3 fours and 6 sixes, before reaching triple figures off another 22 balls.When he retired in the 16th over, Royals were already in sight of victory at 190 for 2, and Captain Rovman Powell finished off the chase with a 49 off 26 deliveries.
“I expected the innings (from Cornwall) but the longevity of it is what I didn’t expect,” said Powell.
“For him to go so long, it’s remarkable. It was a fantastic knock, one of the best I have ever seen.”Patriots appeared out of sight after they posted an impressive 220 for four from their 20 overs, as they continued their bid for their opening win of the campaign. They were propelled by a 27-ball 65 from Captain Sherfane Rutherford and a hasty 63 off 36 deliveries from opener Will Smeed, while Andre Fletcher lashed 56 off 37 balls and Jyd Goolie with 22 from 16 deliveries. Going in, they enjoyed an exhilarating start with Smeed counting 5 fours and 4 sixes and Fletcher striking seven fours and a six in putting together a 115-run, first wicket stand. When off-spinner Cornwall (2-27) removed both of them in the space of 13 deliveries, the left-handed Rutherford controlled the remainder of the innings nicely, posting 31 for the third wicket with Goolie and a further 35 for the fourth with Corbin Bosch (5).
Rutherford struck five fours and five sixes and reached his 50 off 24 deliveries in the final over from seamer Carlos Brathwaite.In reply, Cornwall took charge of the chase putting on 41 for the first wicket with Kyle Mayers (22) before staging an 86-run, second-wicket stand with Laurie Evans (24).It left Royals on 120 for one at the halfway stage to easily complete the run chase, and Cornwall ensured there were no hiccups as he continued to plunder the Patriots bowlers in adding another 68 for the third wicket with Powell before retiring.
Cornwall raised his 100 in style in the 15th over, blasting the first delivery from seamer Benny Howell for a straight six to move to 99 before smacking the next ball, a full toss, to long on for a single. The win was the Royals’ third in six games, leaving them fourth on seven points while the Patriots continued at the bottom on two points without a single victory in eight attempts.
