News Americas, New York, NY, Mon. October 7, 2024: St. Lucia Kings made history on Sunday night by winning their first Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title, defeating reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors at their home ground at the Providence Stadium, Guyana.
In a thrilling final, the Kings scored 139 for 4 as they bowled out the Amazon Warriors for 138 for 8, securing a remarkable six-wicket victory. The victory silenced the packed Guyanese crowd, marking a significant achievement for St. Louis cricket. Lucia.
The turning point came when the Kings were struggling at 51 for 4 chasing 139 on a slow and tricky pitch. The spin attack of the Amazon Warriors dominated the middle half as Roston Chase struggled with illness and Aaron Jones looked out of form. At one point, captain Daren Sammy even considered pulling Jones. But Jones soon turned the game around, smashing 38 off his next 12 balls and along with Chase, put together an unbroken 88-run partnership that snatched victory from the Amazon Warriors.
Chase, playing his fifth season for the Kings, was instrumental in both bowling and batting. He ended the week on a high, having also won a Cricket West Indies (CWI) central contract.
Earlier, Amazon Warriors struggled on a slow surface, managing just 27 runs in the powerplay. Despite valiant efforts from Shai Hope (22 off 24 balls) and late big hitting from Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius, who added 36 runs in the last two overs, their total of 138 was not enough to was protected. Noor Ahmad’s brilliant performance, taking 3 wickets for 19 runs, was a highlight but it was not enough to halt the Royals’ march to victory.
Jones’ explosive performance in the 16th and 17th overs, combined with Chase’s steady support, sealed the victory. Moeen Ali’s dramatic 27-run knock and the subsequent 20-run knock from Pretorius put the game out of reach for the Amazon Warriors.
Jones, who has had an outstanding 2024 season, made his CPL comeback through his Barbadian passport and delivered it when it mattered most. His six-hit show echoed his standout performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup and capped off a memorable night for both him and the Kings.
The coach of St. Lucia Kings Daren Sammy, known for his leadership and inspirational style, embraced Jones with a celebratory hug after the win – an iconic moment that will be remembered as the Kings lifted their first CPL trophy.
