Brathwaite powers Patriots to thrilling win with Super Over heorics

Brathwaite walked in to bat at the fall of Evin Lewis's wicket in the eighth over, with his team still needing 142 runs at almost 12 an over against Trinbago Knight Riders. His enterprising 30-ball 64 included six hits to the fence and four over it and the all-rounder looked all set to take his team home. However, with him falling in the 17th over and Patriots still needing 44 off 19, the game seemed to be slipping out of reach.

Rayad Emrit then scored a quickfire 21, and combined with Alzarri Joseph to gather 14 runs off the first five balls of the final over bowled by Jimmy Neesham. With five more needed off the final ball, Emrit edged one past the 'keeper to tie the scores.

Brathwaite then returned to wrap up unfinished business, hitting paceman Ali Khan for two sixes and a four in the Super Over as Patriots posted 18. The dynamic all-rounder then insisted on bowling himself, beginning with a dot and taking a wicket off the second ball.

With 18 required off the final three deliveries, it was between Brathwaite, the former West Indies T20I captain, and Kieron Pollard, the newly appointed one. Brathwaite bowled two more dots and conceded only five runs in the Super Over, producing another performance under pressure that was worth remembering.

Earlier, Brathwaite put Trinbago Knight Riders in to bat and saw his opponents race away to 216/4, courtesy a 45-ball 90 by Lendl Simmons and useful lower-order contributions from Darren Bravo and New Zealand all-rounder Neesham. The skipper himself picked up two wickets, but conceded 48 runs. None of his bowlers, barring Joseph (1/25), could contain the opposition.

In reply, Patriots raced to 67/2 at the end of six overs, losing Laurie Evans on the last ball of the Powerplay. They lost their way thereafter, with Lewis and Mohammad Hafeez falling in quick succession to be 80/4 in the ninth over. Brathwaite, though, then launched a fierce counter-attack to script a memorable win.