Top things to know
- Gudakesh Motie scored 17 runs in the final over and took 2-7 with the ball to lead the Barbados Tridents to a dramatic last-ball win over the Jamaica Kingsmen.
- Barbados chased down Jamaica's target of 150 for nine to reach 151 for eight, securing a CPL playoff berth after missing out last year.
- Despite the loss, the Jamaica Kingsmen advanced to the playoffs on net run rate, setting up an Eliminator rematch against the Tridents on Wednesday.
In a dramatic last-ball finish at Kensington Oval on Saturday night, the Barbados Tridents secured their place in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League playoffs with a thrilling two-wicket victory over the Jamaica Kingsmen. All-rounder Gudakesh Motie produced a hero's performance, striking crucial boundaries in the final over to complete a high-stakes run chase of 151 and send the home crowd into raptures. The victory marks a successful return to the postseason for the Tridents after missing out on playoff qualification last year, while setting up an immediate Eliminator rematch against the very same opponent on Wednesday.
With 17 runs required off the ultimate six deliveries, the pressure fell squarely on Kingsmen fast bowler Odean Smith and the unbeaten Motie. Motie immediately swung the momentum in Barbados’ favour by blasting Smith’s first ball through backward point for a boundary. He followed up by launching the next legitimate delivery over long-off for a towering six, dramatically lowering the equation. After keeping his nerve through the closing deliveries, Motie scampered a single off the final ball of the match to push the Tridents to 151 for eight. His late-overs heroics capped a chaotic run chase that had repeatedly threatened to slide away from the home team.
Earlier in the chase, the Tridents’ persistent batting inconsistency placed them in immediate jeopardy. The hosts faltered early during the powerplay, slumping to 36 for three following the quick dismissals of Zachary Carter for three, Brandon King for 18, and Rivaldo Clarke for just one. Quinton de Kock added 14 before departing, and when Sherfane Rutherford was run out for five, the Tridents found themselves teetering at 76 for five in the 14th over. Middle-order batter Shadrack Descarte anchored the innings with a vital 56 off 42 deliveries, featuring six boundaries and two sixes. However, Descarte's dismissal at 107 for six at the start of the 17th over left the lower order with a steep mountain to climb. Contributions from Daniel Sams (five) and skipper Chris Green (17 off 12 balls) kept hopes alive until Green fell on the fifth ball of the penultimate over, leaving 17 needed off the last.
After being sent in to bat by the Tridents, the Jamaica Kingsmen laid a solid foundation, reaching 50 for one at the end of the powerplay and progressing to 73 for one after eight overs. Opener Maaz Sadaqat led the charge for Jamaica, top-scoring with a brisk 47 off 34 deliveries. However, the Tridents clawed their way back during the middle overs as Motie delivered an exceptionally economical spell. The spinner picked up two wickets for just seven runs in his three overs, removing both Sadaqat and Usman Khan (18) to trigger a slump that saw Jamaica slip to 112 for six in the 16th over. Pacer Jakeem Pollard maintained his impressive form by grabbing figures of three for 38, while Sams picked up two for 41 to restrict the Kingsmen to 150 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.
Despite suffering the heartbreaking last-ball loss, the Jamaica Kingsmen also managed to seal their spot in the postseason alongside the Tridents. Both the Kingsmen and the St Lucia Kings finished the regular league phase tied on eight points, but Jamaica secured fourth place and the final playoff berth by virtue of a superior net run rate of -0.085 compared to St Lucia's -0.887. The result locks both franchises into a high-stakes rematch in Wednesday's Eliminator at Kensington Oval, where the winner will advance further in their pursuit of the CPL crown.