TKR coach Phil Simmons challenges Pooran to break CPL batting record

sport

2 days ago

TRINBAGO Knight Riders (TKR) head coach Phil Simmons has challenged top-order batsman Nicholas Pooran to surpass the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 record for most runs in a season in the 2024 edition.

Simmons made the decision during TKR's victorious post-game meeting on August 31, following their 44-run demolition of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their opening game at Warner Park in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

With Pooran's thunderous strike with the bat, 97 runs from 43 balls, TKR reached a massive 250/4 – the third-highest score in the league – and then restricted the hosts to 206/8 en route to a resounding triumph in the first match.

His early dominance with the bat spurred Simmons to challenge the left-hander and achieve a record-breaking season in 2024. New Zealand's Colin Munro leads the category for most runs in a season, thanks to his outstanding 567 runs scored for TKR in the 2018 edition.

Pooran's most successful CPL season with the bat was 2023, in which he scored a total of 291 runs.

His outstanding knock of 97 consisted of nine sixes and seven fours. When he hit his sixth six, Pooran became the batsman to score the most T20 sixes in a calendar year, having surpassed Chris Gayle's 135.

Pooran currently leads the world rankings with 139 T20 sixes in a calendar year, and the tournament has only just begun.

During the team meeting in the dressing room, Simmons told Pooran: “First of all, I think you have shown what level you are at right now and my challenge to you is how far you can push that CPL single-season run record. In your form, you should have no problem surpassing it but it all comes down to how far you can push it.”

Pooran teamed up with number five batsman Keacy Carty (73 not out) to build a solid 122-run partnership against the Patriots. Carty is now in his second season for TKR, after making a late debut in the 2023 edition.

Pooran congratulated his batting colleagues for their “tremendous” opening performance and Narine also praised TKR's bowling attack for its good performance.

Two early wickets courtesy of Irish fast bowler Josh Little (2/40) gave TKR a wonderful start in defending their total, while Narine (2/24) and Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil (2/41) also shone with the ball. Narine also scored 38 as the opening batsman.

Narine said: “I think it was a good performance and most importantly not to give away runs but to get those two early wickets in that line-up was very crucial. It was a good first game. We set the tone and we know what we have to do from now on. All the best to the bowlers and keep up the good work.”

TKR captain Kieron Pollard also praised the game-winning partnership between Pooran and Carty and called the result a “meaningful victory”.

Coach Simmons is confident that TKR has achieved the desired result and will look to continue its winning streak throughout the remainder of the tournament.

“It's the first game of a long tournament and yes, we have to enjoy every win we have. We have to make sure and understand that there is a lot of cricket still ahead of us and we cannot lower the standard we set today.

“We haven't set the best standard, the level that anyone can achieve, in our fielding, but in our batting, thinking and bowling, we have set our standards. So let's make sure we can work hard to maintain that standard as we move forward.”

TKR’s next match is on September 5 against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in North Sound, Antigua.