Tim Seifert and Bhanuka Rajapaksa celebrate after guiding the Saint Lucia Kings to a thrilling five-wicket victory over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in CPL 2024.

CPL 2024 : Seifert and Rajapaksa has dazzled as Patriots fall despite Lewis and Mayers’ record partnership

Tim Seifert unleashed a 27-ball onslaught, smashing 64 runs to lead the Saint Lucia Kings in their successful chase of 201

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots scored 201/3 in 20 overs, where as Saint Lucia Kings scored 202/5 in 17.2 overs.

So, finally Saint Lucia Kings won by 5 wickets.

Evin Lewis’s unbeaten 54-ball century and Kyle Mayers’s explosive 92 off 62 deliveries ultimately proved futile, as crucial innings from Tim Seifert, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and David Wiese propelled the Saint Lucia Kings to a thrilling victory.

Lewis and Mayers had set a formidable platform for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with a record-breaking 199-run partnership for the second wicket, driving their team to an imposing total of 201 for 3.

However, the Kings, playing their first match of the tournament, mounted an incredible comeback after early setbacks, thanks to Seifert’s blistering 27-ball 64.

His 44-ball partnership of 103 runs with Rajapaksa (68* off 35) reignited the chase.

Rajapaksa then teamed up with Wiese (34* off 20) in an unbroken 75-run stand off 38 balls, steering the Kings to victory with five wickets in hand and 2.4 overs remaining.

After being asked to bat, the Patriots suffered an early blow with Andre Fletcher’s run-out for just one in the opening over.

However, Mayers and Lewis quickly steadied the ship, unleashing a barrage of boundaries that saw the Patriots race to 54 by the end of the powerplay.

Lewis shifted into top gear in the 8th over, smashing three consecutive sixes off Mikkel Govia and then following up with another flurry of boundaries against Alzarri Joseph to reach his half-century off just 24 balls, guiding the Patriots to 100 at the halfway mark.

The onslaught continued as Mayers reached his fifty in 37 balls, blasting a six off Roston Chase in the 14th over, with Lewis adding two more sixes off the spinner.

The duo’s partnership grew stronger, setting a new CPL record by surpassing Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton’s 162-run stand in 2019.

With a combined tally of 16 sixes and 13 fours, both Mayers and Lewis were in the 90s when rain briefly interrupted play in the 19th over.

Lewis brought up his century in the final over, but Mayers was caught at deep cover off Wiese, who bowled a disciplined over to finish.

Mayers continued his impact with the ball, striking twice in the third over to dismiss Johnson Charles and Ackeem Auguste.

Anrich Nortje then added to the Kings’ troubles by removing Faf du Plessis and Chase in the next over, leaving the Kings reeling at 24 for 4.

However, Seifert and Rajapaksa staged a remarkable recovery, counterattacking the Patriots bowlers with a flurry of boundaries.

Seifert reached his fifty off just 21 balls, smashing six sixes in the process, with 29 runs coming in a single over from Ashmead Nedd as the Kings crossed the 100-run mark.

The pair’s century partnership was eventually broken in the 11th over when Odean Smith got Seifert to miscue to mid-off, providing a much-needed breakthrough for the Patriots.

With 60 runs required from the last seven overs, Wiese launched the attack with a six off Tabraiz Shamsi in the 14th over, and Rajapaksa followed suit, bringing up his half-century off 25 balls with two more sixes.

Wiese and Rajapaksa each struck a six off Mayers, and Rajapaksa sealed the victory with a boundary off Odean in the 18th over.

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