Tabraiz Shamsi’s Brilliant Spell Guides Saint Lucia Kings To Thumping Win Over Trinbago Knight Riders In CPL 2025

In what could easily be described as the biggest upset of CPL 2025, the Saint Lucia Kings produced a stunning all-round performance to dismantle the previously unbeaten Trinbago Knight Riders at their home fortress, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. The Kings secured a seven-wicket victory with 53 balls to spare, effectively breaking TKR’s four-match home winning streak and making a resounding statement ahead of the playoffs.

The hero of the night was undoubtedly Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African left-arm chinaman spinner, who delivered a spellbinding bowling performance of 4-0-12-3 — dismissing three of TKR’s most feared batters: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Akeal Hosein. His spell not only dismantled the TKR batting engine but also set the stage for a ruthless chase, led by Tim Seifert’s explosive 36 and a composed partnership between Roston Chase and Tim David.

Tactical Masterstroke: Saint Lucia Opt to Bowl First

Upon winning the toss, Saint Lucia Kings’ captain Roston Chase made a bold yet intelligent call — choosing to bowl first on a surface that traditionally offers turn and early movement. His decision proved to be a masterstroke, as Shamsi and the seamers choked the life out of a TKR side brimming with explosive talent.

With playoff implications on the line, the Kings stepped onto the field with intensity, discipline, and purpose. What followed was a bowling masterclass that would shift the momentum of the tournament.

Tabraiz Shamsi: The Architect of Destruction

Bowling Figures: 4-0-12-3 | Economy: 3.00 | Dot Balls: 16 | Boundaries Conceded: 0

Tabraiz Shamsi’s spell was nothing short of a tactical dissection. His understanding of pitch conditions, combined with subtle variations in flight, pace, and angle, made life miserable for the TKR batters.

Key Dismissals:

Akeal Hosein (b Shamsi): Attempted a slog-sweep, beaten by dip and drift. Off-stump cartwheeled.
Kieron Pollard (b Shamsi): Beaten in the air, bowled through the gate trying to launch downtown.
Andre Russell (b Shamsi): Flighted delivery turned away slightly — Russell missed it, and his stumps were rattled.

Shamsi’s ability to outthink world-class finishers elevated his spell to an elite level. He conceded no boundaries, bowled 16 dot balls, and never allowed TKR to recover once he broke their middle order.

Trinbago’s Collapse: A Batting Implosion

The Trinbago Knight Riders came into the game as favorites, having steamrolled opponents in their previous matches. But the script was flipped dramatically at Tarouba.

TKR Innings Breakdown:

Total: 109 all out in 18.1 overs
Top Scorer: Nicholas Pooran – 30 (36)
No Batter Crossed 35 Runs
Middle-Order Collapse: From 64/3 to 109 all out

What Went Wrong for TKR:

Pooran’s Lone Battle: Played a cautious knock, trying to hold one end.
Pollard & Russell’s Failures: Both clean-bowled by Shamsi — rare back-to-back dismissals for two T20 legends.
Lack of Rotation: Dot balls built pressure — TKR never found momentum.

Saint Lucia’s bowlers hunted in packs. While Shamsi was the star, he was ably supported by Matthew Forde (2/26), Alzarri Joseph (2/18), and Roston Chase (1/12), who maintained relentless pressure from both ends.

Trinbago Knight Riders Innings Summary

Batter	Runs (Balls)	Dismissal
Nicholas Pooran (c)	30 (36)	c David b Joseph
Akeal Hosein	12 (11)	b Shamsi
Kieron Pollard	10 (7)	b Shamsi
Andre Russell	6 (4)	b Shamsi
Andre Fletcher	9 (8)	c Seifert b Forde
Total	109 (18.1 ov)	All Out

The Chase: Ruthless, Rapid, and Clinical

Chasing 110 was never going to be a monumental task. But the manner in which Saint Lucia Kings executed the run-chase was nothing short of dominant and professional.

Tim Seifert’s Explosive Start

New Zealand’s Tim Seifert brought the hammer down early. His 36 off 19 balls included:

6 Fours
1 Six
Strike Rate: 189.47

His intent neutralized the new-ball threat and laid the foundation for a no-nonsense chase. By the time he departed, Saint Lucia were already halfway to the target.

Auguste & Chase Calm the Waters

Ackeem Auguste played a composed hand with 25 off 20, while Roston Chase, the captain, remained unbeaten on 27. The pair rotated the strike efficiently and punished the loose deliveries to ensure the chase never lost rhythm.

When Auguste departed, Tim David walked in and finished the game with confidence, smashing 17 not out off 16 balls — including a boundary that sealed the win.

Saint Lucia Kings Innings Summary

Batter	Runs (Balls)	Dismissal
Tim Seifert	36 (19)	b Russell
Ackeem Auguste	25 (20)	c Pollard b Hosein
Roston Chase (c)	27* (24)	Not Out
Tim David	17* (16)	Not Out
Total	110/3 (11.1)	Won by 7 Wickets

Match Summary: TKR vs SLK, CPL 2025

📍 Venue	Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba
🧾 Result	Saint Lucia Kings won by 7 wickets
🧾 TKR Total	109 all out (18.1 overs)
🧾 SLK Total	110/3 (11.1 overs)
🌟 Player of the Match	Tabraiz Shamsi – 3/12 in 4 overs

Post-Match Reactions

🎙️ Tabraiz Shamsi (Player of the Match):

“It felt like a chess game out there. I tried to stay one step ahead. Against guys like Pollard and Russell, you can’t miss your lengths — glad it worked today.”

🎙️ Roston Chase, Saint Lucia Kings Captain:

“Fantastic all-round performance. We knew they were strong at home, but we stuck to our plans. Shamsi was world-class, and the chase was just what we needed to boost our NRR.”

🎙️ Nicholas Pooran, TKR Captain:

“Credit to Saint Lucia. We were completely outplayed. We need to go back to the drawing board — this performance doesn’t reflect who we are.”

What This Win Means

For Saint Lucia Kings:

Secures playoff qualification
Boosts Net Run Rate significantly
Builds momentum ahead of crunch games
Reinforces their bowling credentials

For Trinbago Knight Riders:

First home loss of the season
Breaks four-match winning streak
Exposes middle-order fragility
Brings them back to the pack in the points table

CPL 2025 Points Table Impact (After Match 20)

Team	Matches	Wins	Losses	Points	NRR
Saint Lucia Kings	6	4	2	8	+1.35
Trinbago Knight Riders	6	4	2	8	+0.87
Guyana Amazon Warriors	5	3	2	6	+0.75

Key Takeaways from the Game

Tabraiz Shamsi’s spell is arguably the bowling performance of CPL 2025 so far.
Saint Lucia’s top order is clicking at the right time.
TKR’s over-reliance on Pollard and Russell was brutally exposed.
Saint Lucia’s playoff credentials are no longer in question — they are legitimate title contenders.

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