Pollard Stars as Knight Riders Beat Kings in CPL 2025

Gros Islet, August 23: There are innings that light up a stadium. Then there are ones that punch a hole through the atmosphere. Last night at the Daren Sammy Stadium, it was the latter Kieron Pollard, back in beast mode, launching sixes like they were personal statements. Trinbago Knight Riders needed someone to break the rhythm, to give their CPL 2025 campaign a pulse. Pollard gave them a heartbeat.

The veteran’s brutal 65 off just 29 balls helped TKR post a hefty 183 for 7, which proved just enough to keep St Lucia Kings at bay. An 18-run win, but the gap felt wider.

One Over, Four Sixes, No Mercy

Let’s talk about the over. The one that changed everything. David Wiese, St Lucia’s captain and arguably their most experienced bowler, walked in to bowl the 17th. Pollard didn’t blink. First ball, bang. Second, bigger. Third, another. Fourth, out of the ground. Twenty-four runs later, Wiese looked shell-shocked. Pollard barely broke a sweat.

At the time, TKR were wobbling. A decent platform, but far from explosive. Then came that over. “Picked my moment, picked my matchup,” Pollard said with a shrug after the game. Classic.

Munro and Pooran Set It Up, Quietly

Before the storm, there was structure. Colin Munro’s 43 and Nicholas Pooran’s measured 34 did the quiet lifting. They never really threatened to explode, but their intent was clear stay in, rotate, frustrate. And it worked. St Lucia’s bowlers couldn’t break through in the middle overs, and that allowed Pollard the room to swing later.

The pitch wasn’t flat, either. It held up a bit, especially early on. But TKR read it better. The Kings, not so much.

Charles, Seifert Try But the Chase Fizzles

Chasing 184 under lights, St Lucia Kings needed something big at the top. Johnson Charles gave them hope 47 off 37, a couple of crisp hits. Tim Seifert added energy, darting to 35. But both fell just when it looked like they were settling in.

Seifert’s dismissal, in particular, will sting.

UltraEdge showed a spike. Replays didn’t show bat-on-ball. The on-field call was overturned. Confusion all around. David Wiese looked baffled. The crowd let out a collective groan. Commentators called it “questionable.” The decision stood.

That moment flattened the chase. St Lucia never really found their way back after that.

TKR Bowlers Stay Ice-Cold Under Pressure

It wasn’t just the runs. TKR’s bowlers held their nerve when it counted. The likes of Sunil Narine and Ali Khan delivered under pressure, mixing lengths, slowing things down. They never let the required rate drop below 10 an over for too long. Every time the Kings threatened to go big, they found a way to choke the moment.

It’s the kind of composure you don’t often see in early league stages. Credit to the TKR camp for that.

Pollard Isn’t Captain, But He Still Commands the Room

What stood out most wasn’t just the sixes. It was Pollard’s presence. He’s no longer the captain has stepped away from the role but when he’s out there, you’d never know it. Every field change, every timeout, he’s in the mix. When he’s hitting, you can feel the shift.

In a team full of big names, he still commands the room.

At 37, Pollard knows he’s not going to play forever. But nights like these remind everyone why he’s still around. He’s not just a memory of greatness. He’s still great.

For St Lucia, Questions Mount

The Kings are a frustrating side. Moments of brilliance, followed by inexplicable lapses. Their batting remains top-heavy. Wiese, their leader, took a pasting. Their review calls? Messy. And somehow, they keep finding ways to let games drift.

If they’re serious about going deep this season, they’ll need to sharpen up fast.

For TKR, though, this could be the launchpad. They looked more settled. More hungry. And with Pollard striking like that, opponents might want to start planning their overs a little more carefully.

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Prakash Nair

Senior Sports Journalist – [email protected] – Web

Sports reporter covering cricket, football, and Olympic disciplines, with on-ground event experience.

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