Watch, CPL | Twitter impressed as Russell and Pollard trigger Sampson's dismissal with masterstroke

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‌There have been some unique and risky strategies used in a game of cricket that work wonders for the team in any format of the game. One of these eccentric strategies was used by the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL 2025 final, as they used a Test match plan to dismiss Quentin Sampson.

Pollard and Russell add some Test cricket flair in CPL final

The Caribbean Premier League 2025 season is finally over, and it was the Trinbago Knight Riders who won their long-awaited fifth title after a hard-fought three-wicket win against Guyana Amazon Warriors. Though this was a low-scoring bout with no big individual scores, there were still some iconic performances by the bowlers and some valiant efforts in the fields. Apart from that, there were various unique strategies used by the Trinbago franchise in the summit clash, which also resulted in them getting some big wickets as well.

One of the strategic moments came during the first over of the game, which was bowled by Andre Russell as Kieron Pollard was placed at Short leg after the first two deliveries of the over. This is a rare move in a T20 game, as Pollard was stationed in a position that is commonly used in red-ball cricket, where the fields are not spread out as much. However, this plan turned out to be a master stroke as Russell decided to cramp up the Warriors' opening batter Quentin Sampson, with a short ball ploy. The third delivery bowled by Russell struck Sampson on the glove, which led to the physio coming in to check on the batter after he suffered the blow. The Knight Riders finally reaped the rewards for their tactics in the next delivery as Samspon was cramped up for room and lobbed a catch to short leg and was dismissed for a silver duck.

What a master stroke by the giants of West Indies cricket.

Andre Russell strikes in the first over of the CPL final!

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— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo)