Kieron Pollard continued his remarkable form in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 on 7 September, blasting a 17-ball half-century for Trinbago Knight Riders against Guyana Amazon Warriors, although it was not enough to secure victory.
The 38-year-old all-rounder struck an unbeaten 54 from 18 deliveries, reaching his fifty in just 17 balls with 5 sixes and 5 fours. This was Pollard’s fastest fifty in 13 CPL seasons, surpassing his previous mark of 19 balls against St Lucia Kings last year. It also ranks as the joint-third fastest fifty in CPL history, behind JP Duminy (15 balls) and Andre Russell (14 balls). Notably, 50 of Pollard’s 54 runs came in boundaries, making it the third-highest proportion for a 50-plus score in the league’s history.
Put in to bat after losing the toss, Trinbago struggled early, losing three wickets for 39 runs in 5.2 overs. A 56-run fourth-wicket stand between Keacy Carty and Darren Bravo stabilised the innings, but Bravo’s dismissal brought Pollard to the crease in the 16th over at 95-4.
Pollard wasted little time in taking control. He hit consecutive fours off his third and fourth balls, followed by his first six off the eighth. By the start of the final over, he was on 34, off strike. After Andre Russell took a single, Pollard missed his first delivery but then struck two consecutive sixes and a four to reach fifty, ending the over with another boundary. He scored 20 runs from the last four balls, lifting Trinbago to a competitive 167-5.
Despite Pollard’s heroics, Guyana overhauled the target with three wickets in hand. Shai Hope anchored the innings with 53 from 46 balls, Shimron Hetmyer added 49 off 30, and Dwaine Pretorius finished with a blistering 26 not out from 14 deliveries, including three sixes. Needing nine runs from the final over, bowled by Pollard himself, Pretorius struck a six and guided the team home with two singles, sealing a one-ball victory.
Pollard’s innings underlined his continued dominance in T20 cricket. He has scored 291 runs in eight innings at an average of 72.75 and a strike rate of 185.35, the highest among batters with more than 130 runs this season. This season, he has already struck three fifties, compared with just one across his previous 30 CPL innings in the last three editions.
