CPL REVIEW: Tridents crash-out with a whimper as semi-final line-up is completed

The Cricketer rounds up a rain-affected day in the Caribbean Premier League which saw flips and splash landings...

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Tridents suffer dramatic slip in standards

Even though defending champions Barbados Tridents were more than in contention to qualify for the semi-finals, there has been nothing in the last few matches to suggest a sudden about-turn in their fortunes were imminent.

And this was another insipid performance which leaves them with the ignominy of a dead game against Tallawahs this weekend.

After being dismissed by Guyana Amazon Warriors for a third straight double-figure score in the competition and knowing anything less than a win would end their campaign, there was little urgency in their fielding display. Captain Jason Holder refused attacking fields, instead hoping the Warriors would trip themselves up.

And even with wickets needed, Rashid Khan's second spell was held back until defeat was a near-certainty while last season's leading bowler Hayden Walsh Jr was left unbowled. It was a fitting end to the Tridents campaign which looked washed up from the outset.

Kevin Sinclair with some superb bowling and an unbelievable celebration takes the Googly Magic Moment of the match #CPL20 #CricketPlayedLouder #BTvGAW pic.twitter.com/Tr9BxnSKGt

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2020

Sinclair flipping bad

Public intra-squad disagreements, upset supporters in face-paint, failed celebrations. These are 'remember where you were' moments in sport.

Kevin Sinclair produced one of the balls of the tournament, bowling Mitchell Santner with a googly which took out leg stump and embarrassed the New Zealander.

Naturally, the ball scooped the much-coveted Magic Moment of the Match prize. Though what followed was far more noteworthy in what was an otherwise one-sided encounter.

Sinclair set off towards short mid-wicket and launched into a triple somersault. The first was landed with panache, the second with a degree of confidence, but the third had the air of a drunken stumble at a wedding.

Having avoided serious injury, a penny for the thoughts of Hasan Ali or Katherine Brunt, Sinclair's teammates could revel in the failure of the 20-year-old. Though that might be the last we're seen of that particular celebration.

“If you want to know how wet it is, ask Ben Dunk...” #CPL20 #JTvSKP #BenDunk pic.twitter.com/AmejVoBnmy

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 3, 2020

Ben Dunked

You'd have to go back to 2015 to find a CPL tournament that lost more than one match to rain. A single game in the four subsequent editions have all fallen foul of the weather, and with the group stage coming to a climax we looked set for a totally dry tournament.

After 24 matches with few interruptions, only 34 balls went down in Tarouba as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots formally exited the tournament after their clash with Jamaican Tallawahs.

Granted, the Patriots had only prevailed once of their previous eight matches, but mathematically at least a semi-final place was still within their grasp. Indeed, the numbers were pretty much the only thing in their favour.

There is therefore some irony in the start to their innings, which was going along nicely at 46 for 0 before the rains came. Tallawahs are safely through and will likely face Trinbago Knight Riders for a place in the final.

The interruption did at least allow for one moment of hilarity, as Ben Dunk scampered from one side of the outfield to the other, barefoot, splashing his way through the enormous puddles. It made for a classic piece of social media footage, if nothing else.

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