Cricket with Dalchand Bissoon 

At the end of the 15th match last Monday of the Hero Caribbean Premier League, defending champions Barbados Tridents continued to lead, despite losing three matches.

Barbados Tridents playing in their seventh match on Monday at Warner Park, Basseterre, St. Kitts, lost to newcomer the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots by eight wickets.

The Tridents, elected to bat, scored 135 for eight wickets in their 20 overs. Skipper Kieron Pollard topscored with 49 while openers Dwayne Smith made 20 and Dilshan Munaweera 18. Jason Holder also contributed 17, the only batsmen to reach double figures.

Tabraiz Shamsi, the 25 year old South Africa left-arm chinaman bowler, took four for 10 from his four overs, beating his previous best bowling performance of four for 23 against the Jamaica Tallawahs in his last match. Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi took three for 34.

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in reply scored 139 for two wickets in 17.1 overs with skipper Marlon Samuels undefeated on 71 and New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was run out for 45.

The tournament continues.

The points table as of matches played last Monday (July 6): Barbados Tridents eight points from seven matches; St. Lucia Zouks seven points from six matches; St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots six points from six matches; Jamaica Tallawahs four points from four matches; Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel three points from three matches and Guyana Amazon Warriors two points from four matches.