The Barbados Tridents claimed a hard-fought nine-run win against the St. Lucia Kings in a rain-shortened 18-over encounter held at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia. After the Kings opted to field, the Tridents overcame an early loss of Zachary Carter to post a competitive total of 177 for 5. Brandon King and Quinton de Kock provided the innings with momentum through a 56-run partnership before Roston Chase claimed both their wickets.
Sherfane Rutherford proved to be the standout performer for the Tridents, walking in at 90 for 3 in the 10th over to hammer a 31-ball 61. His aggressive knock included three fours and five sixes, featuring a dominant display against Matthew Forde and consecutive sixes in the 17th over that secured his first CPL fifty in three years. A final-ball six from Chris Green helped boost the Tridents to their total of 177.
In response, the Kings saw captain Roston Chase adopt an aggressive approach, though the Tridents managed to dismiss both openers within two overs following a 41-run stand. The Kings' chase faced further disruption when Jewel Andrew retired hurt in the eighth over. Ackeem Auguste played a lone hand, scoring 63 and anchoring a 55-run partnership with Charith Asalanka. Auguste reached his fifty in the 12th over with three sixes off Ramon Simmonds, but his dismissal by Gudakesh Motie in the 14th over proved critical.
The match reached a tense conclusion in the final overs. Daniel Sams struck consecutive sixes off Amari Goodridge in the penultimate over to keep the Kings in contention before falling. With 29 runs required from the last over, Forde hit two fours and a six, but Ramon Simmonds held his nerve. He bowled a slower delivery that took Forde off strike, dismissed Joshua Bishop on the fifth ball, and restricted Maheesh Theekshana to a single boundary on the final ball to seal the victory.
