Sunil Narine produced an all-round show as Trinbago Knight Riders started their Caribbean Premier League campaign in style, winning their opening game against Guyana Amazon Warriors by four wickets in a rain-fit fixture.
After the match was reduced to 17 overs, Narine, the most successful bowler of the evening, picked two wickets while conceding 19 runs at an economy of just 4.80. His victims were the likes of Chandrapaul Hemraj and Ross Taylor, and riding on the back of Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 63 off 44, the Warriors posted 114/5.
NARINE MAGIC!!! Sunil Narine strikes early. #CPL20 #CricketPlayedLouder #TKRvGAW pic.twitter.com/6Xv73ZK3DA
— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 18, 2020
With the bat, Narine scored a quick-fire half-century in 27 deliveries and his effort was enough to bring the required run rate down to just seven. The West Indies all-rounder was eventually dismissed by Imran Tahir in the final delivery of the 11th over. Darren Bravo then played his part, scoring 30 from 27 balls.
The Knight Riders had an extensively slow start as the Amazon Warriors restricted them to just nine off the first three overs. However, after Lendl Simmons was dismissed, Colin Munro broke the shackles and a quickfire 17 off just seven deliveries set the momentum for Knight Riders as they cruised to a four-wicket victory.
With the domestic cricket back, cricket fans were duly entertained by a Sunil Narine show, and this is how they are reacting to it:
Sunil Narine you beauty..... 😍
— محسن ممتاز (@MAHI_13189) August 19, 2020
What a bowling spell 2-19 in his 4 overs and 28 balls 50 runs.
He's a gem of a player. #CPL2020 🏏🏏🏏
No discounting the threat of #SunilNarine in T20s at any points.
— Sriram Madhavan (@sriram_madhavan) August 18, 2020
Right on the money in the first game post the lockdown itself. #CPLT20 @CPL
Sunil Narine has come a looong way in his batting.
— tubz (@rwpexpress14) August 18, 2020
Sunil Narine’s evolution as a two player has been a huge asset for any T20 franchise. In his current avatar he is a better T20 package than he ever was.
— Luka Dončić Fan Club (@vanillawallah) August 18, 2020
Sunil Narine bowling on a Trini spin track against a helmet-less Hetmyer is what we all wanted to see #CPL
— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) August 18, 2020
That was tight by Sunil Narine. 11 dots 19 runs. #CPLT20
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) August 18, 2020
Sunil Narine is back 🔥🔥🔥
— Abhishek (@ImAbhishek7_) August 18, 2020