SLK VS GUY T20S

Right then, a festival that lasted well over a month and as usual, the Caribbean Premier League hasn't disappointed in terms of cricket and entertainment. At the end of it all, it is Saint Lucia Kings who have bagged their first title, making it a complete set in terms of every franchise winning the CPL. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and until next time then, take care and goodbye!

It is finally time for Faf du Plessis to lift that coveted CPL trophy and he then joins his teammates on the podium in celebrations.

Faf says that this franchise was looking to get their hands on the trophy for a long time and to play a final here with the home crowd against you, is difficult. Adds that it was a good game of cricket, a low-scoring thriller and mentions that the decision to bowl first was a good one and were happy to chase 139 runs. Mentions that throughout the tournament, they have mentioned that there is always an opportunity for someone with the bat to be the hero and it was the time for Aaron Jones. Goes on to say that the opposition bowled really well but towards the end, they decided to have a crack at the bowlers and didn't want to leave things late. Ends by saying that he is proud of the team and they all did the gritty work and contributed to the success.

Next up, it is time for the winning team players to collect their medals and then the skipper Saint Lucia Kings, Faf du Plessis is up for a quick chat...

The skipper of Guyana Amazon Warriors, Imran Tahir says they did not start well with the bat and lost wickets regularly which meant the score was less than what they had planned. Mentions that few things here and there did not go their way but he congratulates Kings on their maiden title. Adds that 170-180 could have been challenging for the opponents with the bowling they have.  Credits the team that the side played brilliantly throughout and he feels proud of his side. Closes by saying that Romario was sent late as they wanted him to go in with the last 4-5 overs where he could have excelled and he did brilliantly during that period but the lack of strike rotation in the middle phase cost them the game.

Next up, all the match officials are handed their tournament medals. After this, Imran Tahir and his teammates are presented with the runners-up medals.

Noor Ahmad has been adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT thanks to his 22 wickets and great contribution in the final as well. He starts by thanking the Almighty and goes on to say that it is a special day for the team and the whole of Saint Lucia and just tried to bowl according to the plan. Mentions that they played three games prior against Guyana and had a good idea of how to play against them and ends by saying that since the start of the tournament, they had the belief that they would be champions.

A few awards being given out now as Noor Ahmad picks up the award for the most wickets in the tournament and it is Nicholas Pooran finishes as the highest run-getter of the tournament.

Roston Chase is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his all-round display. He is up for a quick chat and says it is a great feeling to win the third time around after being on the wrong side twice early. Mentions that bowling against Shai Hope was the best match-up and it was a strategic move that worked well. Reckons that when he was out in the middle he looked to bat at 7-8 runs per over but couldn't do so and when they took over after the message from the dugout, it all clicked well and Aaron Jones played a beauty of a cameo at the end and that turned the tie in their favor.

The Presentation ceremony...

David Wiese is in for a quick word as well and says that Daren Sammy always backed the players and developed an amazing team culture not just to be a part of the final but to win it as well. Mentions that its a moment to feel overwhelmed and just be in the moment and enjoy it.

Alzarri Joseph is the next one to chime in. He says they were a bit worried when the run rate was climbing but they always believed in the side and eventually won. Johnson Charles then has a word and says that they believed this was their year from the beginning and they have done this at the end. Mentions that he feels on top of the world at this point. Mentions that he had to do some work on his batting and he still has a lot to improve as that's the only way they can defend their title next time around as KINGS DEFEND THEIR CROWN.

The other man of the moment, Roston Chase is now up for a quick chat and says it means a lot as they have been in two finals before and lost both but this win means a lot. Mentions that the message was clear that they needed to target one bowler and aim to get around 20 runs and they managed to do that with conviction and that helped to chase this down. Credits Aaron Jones for his sensational switch of gears.

First up, it is the man of the moment, Aaron Jones, who is up for a quick chat and says they knew it was going to be a challenge against Guyana Amazon Warriors and they are glad to come out on top. Mentions that the message from the dugout was to take time at the beginning and then aim to play the gaps and clear the ropes. Adds that this is the very first CPL title for the Kings and he is glad he contributed as well.

Let's now hear from a few of the players of Saint Lucia Kings ...

Earlier in the game, Faf du Plessis put Guyana Amazon Warriors into bat first hoping for some dew in the latter half of the game. Khary Pierre backed his captain's decision by getting rid of dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck. The bowlers of Saint Lucia Kings did well enough to pick up wickets at regular intervals and never let a big partnership to build. The Warriors seemed to be barely crossing the three-figure mark but a couple of quickfire cameos from Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius meant they had something solid to defend.

Spare a thought for Guyana Amazon Warriors and their amazing home crowd. The Warriors have been one of the standout teams right from the first edition and this is the seventh final they were a part of and unfortunately, it was a sixth defeat. From the brink of going back-to-back, they have been shocked by a couple of unreal batting performances. Their spinners ruled the roost in the middle phase of the game and didn't concede a single boundary between overs 7 and 15. But, everything went downhill in that 16th over and just a couple of balls into the 19th over, their dream of a second title was over.

Jubilation for Faf du Plessis and his troops as they spring onto the field to celebrate their maiden CPL title. Needing 139 for the win, the Kings huffed and puffed inside the Powerplay and at the halfway mark, it all seemed like a peak too high to breach. But, an unlikely duo of Aaron Jones and Roston Chase has done the spectacular. They put on 88 runs for the 5th wicket and simply went berserk towards the final few overs and ended on the winning side with 10 balls in hand. Jones remained unbeaten on 48 off just 31 balls and Chase too remained not out on 39 off 22 balls, simply sensational.

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR SAINT LUCIA KINGS! What a turnaround and they have managed to turn agony into defeat and have ruined the party for Guyana Amazon Warriors in front of their home supporters. 2024 has already been a monumental year in terms of sports for Saint Lucia with their first-ever medals at the Summer Olympics and now they have ended the wait for their first-ever Caribbean Premier League title as they were the only franchise yet to have won the tournament.