Lewis fireworks keep Patriots unbeaten

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Evin Lewis’ 92 made all the difference as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots defeated winless St Lucia Stars by 33 runs, to register their third straight win and remain unbeaten in the Caribbean Premier League.
Playing at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Lewis’ fireworks helped the visitors up to a tournament-equaling 196 for six off their 20 overs, after they were sent in.
The left-hander blasted five fours and seven sixes off just 52 balls but got little support as only Mohammad Nabi with an unbeaten 24 at number seven and Carlos Bratwaite, with 21, chipping in.
Talismanic opener Chris Gayle failed with 12, striking two fours before fellow Jamaican Jerome Taylor removed his off-stump with a full-length delivery at 35 for one in the third.
Lewis then put on 47 for the third wicket with Brandon King (11) and a further 55 for the fourth wicket with Devon Thomas’ (9), to bolster the innings.
With a century in sight, he steered a wide delivery from seamer Kyle Mayers to gully, to perish in the 17th over.
Nabi and Brathwaite belted 31 off 13 balls for the sixth wicket at the end to give Stars a daunting target to chase.
Speedster Taylor was the leading bowler with three for 46.
In reply, Stars got 48 from opener Andre Fletcher, 23 from Rahkeem Cornwall and 21 from Marlon Samuels, but failed to get that one big innings necessary to turn the game on its head.
Fletcher struck six fours and a six off 33 deliveries, posting 32 off 21 balls for the first wicket with Johnson Charles (13) and 36 for the third wicket with Samuels.
However, he and Samuels fell in the space of two overs, sparking a slide that saw five wickets tumble for 46 runs and Stars failed to recover.
Off-spinners Mohammad Nabi (3-15) and Mohammed Hafeez (3-22) finished with three wickets apiece.