The month-and-a-half cricketing extravaganza in the West Indies concluded with the CPL Finals in Guyana, where Saint Lucia faced off against the home team. Winning the toss, Saint Lucia opted to bowl first, a decision that paid off.
Guyana’s batters struggled to find their footing, with none managing to score more than 30 runs. Noor Ahmed’s impressive three-wicket haul restricted them to 138/8 in 20 overs.
Saint Lucia’s chase began with a solid opening partnership between Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles. Although the middle order stumbled, vital contributions from Ackeem Auguste and Tim Seifert kept them in the game.
Roston Chase’s 39 and Aaron Jones’ explosive 48 off 31 balls ultimately secured the victory. Imran Tahir bowled a wide in the 19th over with just one run needed, igniting celebrations as Saint Lucia clinched the title. The dugout erupted with joy, and Chase celebrated by throwing his fists into the air.
As the festivities reached their peak, Faf stepped up to receive the coveted CPL trophy. The Proteas legend, known for his calm demeanor and leadership, couldn’t resist injecting some fun into the moment.
A euphoric moment for the Saint Lucia Kings! 🇱🇨 #CPL24 #CPLFinals #SLKvGAW #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/fQZSG3C4WV
— CPL T20 (@CPL) October 7, 2024
In a playful gesture, he mimicked Rohit Sharma’s iconic celebration from the ICC World T20 Final in June. With a cheeky grin, Faf wobbled toward his jubilant teammates, imitating the theatrical walk that Rohit had showcased earlier in the year.