Keemo Paul Stars as Jamaica Kingsmen Surge to Second Place

Keemo Paul produced a superb all-round performance as Jamaica Kingsmen defeated St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 51 runs to climb to second place in the CPL 2026 points table.

Batting first, Kingsmen posted 181 for 6, with Paul smashing 65 from 36 balls and captain Rovman Powell contributing a valuable 49. Paul then returned with the ball to claim 3 for 30, while Andre Russell chipped in with 2 for 19 as the home side bowled Patriots out for 130 in 18 overs.

The victory was Kingsmen’s second in a row after they had opened their campaign with three consecutive defeats. Patriots, meanwhile, suffered their second loss in three matches after failing to recover from a disastrous start.

Paul and Powell Rescue Kingsmen

Kingsmen were in deep trouble early after being asked to bat. Saurabh Netravalkar struck twice in the opening over, dismissing Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty without scoring to leave the hosts at 0 for 2.

Reeza Hendricks and Usman Khan briefly steadied the innings, but Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed both batters in consecutive overs. Kingsmen were suddenly 54 for 4 in the eighth over.

That brought Powell and Paul together, and the pair transformed the innings.

Paul immediately attacked Hasaranga, beginning with a reverse-sweep for four before adding another boundary. Powell also took on Netravalkar, while Paul targeted CPL debutant Nikhil Chaudhary.

The acceleration became even more dramatic after the 15th over. Paul smashed Hasaranga for two sixes before reaching his half-century from just 30 balls with another six off Netravalkar.

He then produced a stunning sequence of 6, 6, 4, 4 to collect 22 runs from the over and put Kingsmen firmly in control.

Paul's entertaining innings ended at 65 off 36 balls when Jason Holder's slower delivery forced him to hole out at long-on. His partnership with Powell was worth 99 runs from 63 deliveries.

Powell was dismissed soon after for 49, while Russell added an unbeaten 14 from seven balls, including two sixes, to take Kingsmen to 181 for 6.

Patriots Collapse After Poor Start

Patriots' chase got off to an equally difficult beginning.

Hassan Khan removed Andre Fletcher in the first over, while Hunain Shah induced an edge from Johnson Charles. Paul then produced a brilliant delivery to bowl Kyle Mayers, leaving Patriots at 31 for 3 in the fifth over.

Kevin Wickham attempted to rebuild the innings, but wickets continued to fall around him. Chaudhary was trapped lbw by Vitel Lawes before Dasun Shanaka was run out following a mix-up with Wickham.

Wickham and Navin Bidaisee managed to add some stability and take the score beyond 100, but the required rate had climbed above 12 runs per over.

Bidaisee was retired out for 19 from 16 balls at the end of the 14th over, bringing Holder to the crease. The Patriots captain lasted only four deliveries before Russell had him caught at cover.

With 71 runs still needed from the final 30 balls and only three wickets remaining, the chase was effectively over. Russell dismissed Wickham in the 17th over, while Paul returned to claim the final two wickets and complete his impressive figures of 3 for 30.

The comprehensive win gives Jamaica Kingsmen renewed momentum after their poor start to the tournament, while Paul’s contribution with both bat and ball proved decisive in their climb up the standings.