By Anas Ahmed 
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots kept their playoff hopes alive in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 after a Jason Holder-inspired one-run win over Barbados Royals at Kensington Oval.
The all-rounder produced a match-winning performance, striking an unbeaten 53 off just 30 balls before defending 14 in the final over. Holder’s composure with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Match award and kept the Patriots in the hunt for a semi-final berth.
Patriots Recover Through Holder
Sent in to bat first, the Patriots started positively with Mohammad Rizwan and Andre Fletcher adding 46 for the opening wicket. However, a mini-collapse saw them slip to 74/5 as Chris Green’s tight spell (2/18) and Eathan Bosch’s breakthroughs (3/26) stifled the innings.
From there, Holder shifted momentum. Mixing calculated aggression with smart rotation, he guided the innings deep, finding support from Navin Bidaisee in a crucial sixth-wicket stand worth 74. His 53* ensured the Patriots reached 150/7, a total that looked just about defendable.
Royals Falter in Chase
The Royals, needing 151 for victory, began steadily with Quinton de Kock and Brandon King adding 42 at the top. But spinners Waqar Salamkheil (2/27) and Bidaisee (2/24) turned the screws, dismissing both openers and dragging the Patriots back into the contest.
Rassie van der Dussen remained unbeaten with 37 off 27, but regular wickets kept halting the chase. Sherfane Rutherford’s promising start ended quickly, while Fabian Allen’s sharp fielding added further pressure.
Holder’s Nerve Seals the Game
The equation boiled down to 14 needed off the final over, and Holder chose to take responsibility. Van der Dussen cleared the ropes first ball, but the veteran seamer held his nerve, mixing yorkers and slower balls to perfection. The Royals finished on 149/7, agonizingly short by just one run.
The result eliminated Barbados Royals from the tournament, while the Patriots still have an outside chance of progressing depending on Guyana Amazon Warriors’ final fixtures.
Brief Scores
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 150/7 (Jason Holder 53*, Rizwan 39; Bosch 3/26, Green 2/18)
Barbados Royals 149/7 (van der Dussen 37*, King 29; Salamkheil 2/27, Bidaisee 2/24)
Result: Patriots won by 1 run.
Player of the Match: Jason Holder (53* & 2/32)
Zainab Shafiq