CPL 2026: Saint Lucia Kings Hold Off Pollard Charge to Claim Fourth Win

The Saint Lucia Kings secured a 36-run victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders, successfully defending a total of 211/4 despite Kieron Pollard’s stunning performance. Pollard returned to the top of the all-time T20 run charts with a 26-ball 65, but could not prevent Trinbago Knight Riders from suffering their third straight loss.

Seifert Powers Kings to a Huge Total

Seifert and Kamil Pooran gave the Kings a quick start with a 60-run opening stand, with the New Zealander reaching a fast half-century. Pooran and John Campbell then added useful cameos before Sunil Narine dismissed Campbell for his 650th T20 wicket. At that point, Seifert was 82 off 38 and the Kings were 135/2 after 12 overs.
Narine and Tariq then slowed the scoring, with only 21 runs coming from the next 4 overs. Charith Asalanka broke the shackles by hitting Drakes for 3 sixes, but even Seifert found it hard to attack the slower deliveries. Pollard conceded only 15 runs across the 18th and 20th overs, but Seifert reached his second CPL century as the Kings finished on 211, the highest total of the season.

TKR Make a Strong Start in the Chase

TKR started their chase strongly, with Colin Munro leading the attack in a 70-run opening partnership with Narine. Chase changed the game within 4 balls, though. After being hit for a one-handed six, the offspinner dismissed Narine and then removed Matthew Breetzke and Nicholas Pooran. Joshua Bishop kept things tight from the other end and Munro also fell in the 11th over, leaving the Knight Riders in serious trouble.

Pollard, however, had other plans. He took 21 runs from an over by Bishop and kept the chase alive. While Matthew Tromp struggled at 7 off 19 balls, Pollard had raced to 44 from the same number of deliveries. He soon completed his fifty and then attacked Maheesh Theekshana for another 21-run over, bringing the target down to 66 from the final 24 balls.

Forde Seals Kings’ Win

Matthew Forde then delivered the key moment by dismissing Pollard with a short ball. The Knight Riders could not recover as Tromp and Jyd Goolie failed to score quickly. None of the final 4 overs produced 10 or more runs, ending the Knight Riders’ hopes of completing the chase. The result gave the Saint Lucia Kings a 36-run victory and moved them to the top of the table.

For the Trinbago Knight Riders, Pollard’s explosive lone crusade offers a silver lining, but three consecutive defeats underscore an urgent need to address their top-order vulnerability if they are to reignite their campaign.

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