CPL 2026: Dasun Shanaka’s record-breaking run inspires St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots to crushing 137-point win over St. Lucia Kings
The St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots cruised to a 137-run win over the St. Lucia Kings in Basseterre on Thursday (September 3). Piling on 235 for 4 on the back of Dason Shanaka’s record century, the Patriots bowled out their opponents for just 98 with Jeremiah Lewis taking five wickets.
When asked to bat first, the Patriots started modestly, scoring just 10 runs off their first three overs while also losing Kyle Myers. The tempo changed in the third period as Matthew Ford conceded a six-four-five. Andre Fletcher then smashed Mahesh Thekshana for 19 runs in the next over before three more boundaries came in the sixth over, taking the Patriots to 59 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay.
Fletcher was dropped in the seventh over and quickly brought up his fifty, off just 23 balls, in the seventh over. Roston Chase broke the 81-run stand between Fletcher and Johnson-Charles by dismissing the latter in the 10th over but the real carnage was yet to unfold. Shanaka began his brutal attack by smashing Joshua Bishop for two fours and followed it up with two sixes against Chase.
The Kings dismissed Fletcher and Jason Holder within two but there was no relief with Shanaka firing on all cylinders. He brought up his fifty off just 24 balls before reaching his century off just 39 deliveries – the fastest in the CPL. He hit four sixes and a boundary in the final over as the Patriots finished on 235 for 4.
The hunt for royalty never took off. After losing Kamil Pooran in the first round, they also lost John Campbell and Sharith Asalanka inside the Powerplay to end up with just 46 for 3 from the stage. Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Obus Pienaar next over and then it was Jeremiah Louis’ show. Lewis came into the attack in the 10th over, and struck immediately, removing Chase and Forde from successive deliveries. Tim Seifert, who was fighting a lone fight, was brought back by Ashmead Ned in the next over.
Lewis came back to claim Joshua Bishop before wrapping up the innings by dismissing Thekshana and Amari Goodridge in the 14th over. The Kings were bowled out for just 98 with only three batters reaching double figures.
Summary scores: St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots 235/4 in 20 overs (Dason Shanaka 121*, Andre Fletcher 64; Matthew Ford 2-48) beat St. Lucia Kings 98 in 13.5 overs (Tim Seifert 50; Jeremiah Lewis 5-10) by 137 runs.
