Shakib's all-round effort in vain

Shakib Al Hasan played a brilliant all-round knock in his first match for the Barbados Tridents today, but his effort went in vain as his side lost by one run against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their crucial CPL encounter in Bridgetown.

Shakib bowled a miserly spell of four overs, conceding only 14 runs while taking the wicket of opposition captain Carlos Brathwaite as Tridents restricted Patriots to 149 in their 20 overs. The left-arm spinner started the innings with a maiden and wrapped up his bowling by dismissing big-hitting Brathwaite to keep the target within achievable margin. Shamarh Brooks top-scored for Patriots with 53.

In reply, Tridents lost Johnson Charles when the score was 15 before Shakib joined Alex Hales in the crease. The left-hander immediately found form and smashed a four and a six against Mohammad Hafeez to get his innings going. 

Shakib kept hitting boundaries and it looked like he would finish the job himself, but an ill-advised shot against Brathwaite brought his demise for 38 off 25 deliveries. 

Shakib's wicket brought a collapse as Tridents lost five wickets for 14 runs before Raymon Reifer resurrected the run-chase. But there was a late twist and the Tridents batsmen failed to hold their nerve, ending up one run short losing all their wickets in 20 overs.

In fifth position on the six-team table, Shakib's Tridents can still make the playoffs if they beat St Lucia Zouks in their next match tomorrow.