Aaron Jones shined in an exciting Caribbean Premier League 2024 (CPL) final match as he guided the Saint Lucia Kings to the title with an explosive batting performance, scoring 11 runs with two balls remaining and clinching victory against Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Faf-du-Plessis’ team was on the verge of losing the title even before the match began as they had to chase defended total. The Warriors, the defending champions, batted first scoring 138/8 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, the Kings found themselves at a precarious position of 67/4 at the end of the 14th over, still needing 72 runs in 36 deliveries with the required run rate and pressure building.
Then Aaron Jones raised his game and wowed the fans in style, during the 16th over of the match with Moeen Ali routing 27 runs inclusive of many strokes hitting the boundary which gave the Kings an injection of hope they desperately needed. Jones was on a roll as more massive sixes were hit in the next few overs as the bowlers for the warriors were unable to handle him.
20 runs came off Dwayne Pretorious’ 17th over and 18 runs came off Romario Shepherd’s 18th over taking it down to 12 runs with 1 wicket left in a remarkable turn of events as the oche was stunned into silence by Jones’ performance which a minute ago had them on their feet.
To finish it off, Warriors skipper Imran Tahir bowled a leg-side wide and Jones ended up scoring 48 runs off 31 balls not out with Roston Chase scoring 39 runs off 22 balls as Saint Lucia Kings basked in the glory of winning their maiden CPL title in the most incredible way.
The two men were clearly intoxicated with happiness in between the moments encapsulating the imprisonment of the coveted trophy as they were delighted to have been there to ensure their side crossed the line for the very first CPL title.
“This means a lot,” Roston Chase commented, “I was in two finals before this and I made it my business to win it this morning.”
‘We knew playing in the final is going to be a challenge said Aaron Jones, But we came out on top. I see myself as a match winner’
The perfect auction for Moeen Ali came while bowling the match changing 16th over. It was ironic as the English all-rounder had had a brilliant tournament with the ball especially considering his economy rate. But it was this who ruefully should be beaten away 27 runs in six balls as the match swung out of the Warriors and into the Kings.
The warrior fans are not a school of thought but only an insipid whimsical attractive refrain. It is so as yet again another CPL season draws to a close with the Saint Lucia Kings quite fairly being the champions who for the first time lifted the trophy to the memorable sights at the Providence stadium.
