The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots earned their first points of the Caribbean Premier League 2026 season on Wednesday, defeating the Saint Lucia Kings by five wickets at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. The victory was largely driven by a disciplined bowling performance from captain Jason Holder and Saurabh Netravalkar, who each finished with three wickets.
After the Kings chose to bat, Netravalkar struck early to remove Andries Gous for four and Ackeem Auguste for a duck. The innings was steadied by Jewel Andrew, who scored 58 off 42 balls with four fours and four sixes, and Kamil Pooran, who added an explosive 54 off 30 deliveries including seven boundaries and three sixes. Their 81-run partnership was eventually severed by a run-out of Pooran. Holder then shifted the momentum by dismissing Andrew and Charith Asalanka in the same over, leaving the Kings at 134/5. Holder finished with 3 for 20, while Netravalkar returned 3 for 32, restricting the Kings to a total of 155/8.
In response, the Patriots began their chase of 156 with immediate aggression. Johnson Charles hit 16 off five balls before Matthew Forde claimed his wicket. Kyle Mayers continued the momentum with a rapid 32 off 16 balls, striking three fours and three sixes at a 200 strike rate. Following these quick departures, Andre Fletcher anchored the innings with an unbeaten 48 off 41 balls, featuring three boundaries and a six.
Fletcher received support from the middle order, including 19 from Kevin Wickham, 12 from Dasun Shanaka, and 10 not out from Holder, allowing the Patriots to reach their target in 17.4 overs. Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Kings’ bowlers with 2 for 22. The final scorecard saw the Saint Lucia Kings finish at 155/8, while the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots reached 156/5 to seal the win.
The Kings managed to rebuild their innings behind a strong half-century from Jewel Andrew, who anchored the middle order with 58 runs off 42 balls, including two fours and four sixes.
The dangerous 81-run stand was finally broken via a run-out of Pooran, and Holder then sent back Andrew and Charith Asalanka in the same over to reduce Kings to 134/5 in the space of five deliveries.
Chasing a target of 156, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots got off to a blistering start through Johnson Charles, who smashed 16 runs off just five balls – two sixes included – before falling to Matthew Forde.
Despite the two fifties,the Patriots’ bowlers contained the rest of the lineup.
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