In the aftermath of a dramatic CPL Eliminator match between Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and Barbados Royals in Providence, Guyana, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell took to social media to express his frustration, suggesting that TKR was “robbed” of a win. The match was interrupted by a floodlight failure, which Russell labeled as a “farce” in a strongly worded Instagram story.
Floodlight Failure Halts Play
The incident occurred when TKR, having elected to bat, were 168 for 3 in 19.1 overs. At 8:58 pm, three of the six floodlights in the stadium went out, forcing the players off the field. According to the match umpires Deighton Butler and Nigel Duguid, the lighting was deemed insufficient and unsafe for play to continue. The CPL later released a statement confirming that the lighting levels were below the necessary safety standards.
Both teams were offered the opportunity to continue playing in reduced lighting, but while the Barbados Royals were open to the idea, TKR opted not to proceed, citing safety concerns. The power issue was finally resolved nearly two hours later at 10:51 pm, just minutes before the 11:01 pm cut-off time required to stage a shortened match.
Royals Clinch Victory in Dramatic Finish
When play resumed, the match officials applied the DLS method, reducing the Royals’ chase to 60 runs off five overs. South African batter David Miller led the charge for the Royals with an explosive 50 off just 17 balls, ensuring his team’s victory with four balls to spare.
CWI senior match referee Reon King explained the situation, stating that the CPL rules allow for an extra hour to be added to the match in case of floodlight failures, treating it similarly to rain delays. “The priority for the match officials is player safety, but we always strive to ensure a result is achieved on the field where possible,” King said.
Russell’s Discontent
Andre Russell, who was batting on 20 when the lights went out, did not mince words the day after the game. In his Instagram post, he criticized the situation, saying: “I feel robbed this year in CPL. The light situation was unacceptable, and the timing of the lights coming back just before the cut-off feels suspicious. Chasing 60 off 30 balls was unfair.”
Pollard Accepts Defeat Gracefully
TKR captain Kieron Pollard took a more composed approach in his post-match comments, acknowledging that while his team had the right to refuse to play in unsafe conditions, they were prepared to continue once the lights were restored. Pollard stated that the umpires had kept both teams informed of the minimum overs required and the time constraints. “We were always ready and willing to play within the rules. It’s part of cricket, and sometimes things don’t go your way,” Pollard said.
Despite the defeat, Pollard praised Miller’s outstanding performance and acknowledged that his side had simply been outplayed in the final moments.
Royals’ Captain Powell Admits to Being Fortunate
Barbados Royals captain Rovman Powell admitted that his team felt lucky to still be in the competition after the lights failed. “At one point, we thought we were out, but once the lights came back, we knew we had a strong chance. Chasing 60 in five overs isn’t too tough,” Powell remarked, sympathizing with TKR’s misfortune.
Power Failure Explained
The Guyana Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, along with Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), issued a joint statement explaining the technical issue behind the floodlight failure. According to the statement, the problem stemmed from a fault in the underground cable supplying power to one of the floodlights. While two floodlights were quickly restored, the third took longer to fix due to the need for a substitute cable.
The incident has sparked widespread debate, with many fans and commentators divided on whether TKR were unfairly disadvantaged by the events. Nonetheless, Barbados Royals move on to the next stage, while TKR’s tournament comes to a controversial end.
