Warriors set perfect 10 CPL record after seeing off defending champs

The Warriors beat Trinbago Knight Riders, the defending champions, by seven wickets to ensure their league campaign passed without blemish – they finish atop the table, with full 20 points, while the Knight Riders, on the back of a win-less run of six matches, finished fourth with nine points.

The Warriors will face Barbados Tridents in the first Qualifier, while the Knight Riders have a tricky clash with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Eliminator.

The final group game at Providence was a low-scoring encounter. The Knight Riders posted 143/5, thanks largely to Lendl Simmons (30 off 24), Colin Munro (43 off 40), and Kieron Pollard (36* off 27). But that was never going to pose much of a threat against the Warriors, especially with Nicholas Pooran going all guns blazing.

The Knight Riders had some hope of triggering a collapse when Chandrapaul Hemraj (12 off 16), Brandon King (33 off 23) and Shimron Hetmyer (nine off 10) were dismissed within four overs and the Warriors were reduced to 59/3.

However, Shoaib Malik and Pooran then combined, putting on an unbroken 85-run stand for the fourth wicket to complete the chase with eight balls remaining. Malik held up one end with a 29-ball 28*, while Pooran did the aggressive bit, scoring a 35-ball 54* that comprised five fours and three sixes.

Malik, the Warriors captain, said the unbeaten run “felt great”, but stressed that his side should recognise the job isn’t done yet. “If I look at this dressing room, all of the players have the potential,” he said in the post-match presentation. “They just haven't crossed the line. They have an opportunity here. Sunday [first qualifier] is an important game, and we are focusing on it.”