The allrounder smashed an unbeaten 48 off 24 balls to deny the Kings in a last-ball thriller
The Patriots looked like they may have frittered away the final at 95 for 5 in the 14th over when Bravo fell to David Wiese. But Drakes produced an audacious death-hitting display to rally the Patriots in the last five overs. With 55 needed off 30 balls, Drakes pumped David Wiese back over his head for six, then went inside-out over extra cover off Wahab Riaz to end the 17th, bringing the equation down to 31 off 18.
Kesrick Williams then made a costly error to start the 18th, bowling his first ball completely off the pitch for it to be ruled a no-ball, and Allen flicked the free hit past short fine leg for four. Allen fell to start the 19th, pulling Wahab to deep midwicket, but Drakes crossed with the ball in the air and delivered a hammer blow next ball with the shot of the day, spanking a short ball over the cover ropes again for six.
Starting the final over on strike with nine to win against Williams, it came down to five off two balls before Drakes powered another sizzling drive flat over extra-cover for a one-bounce four to level the scores. Williams speared in a yorker on the legs off the final ball of the match but Drakes was able to flick it away to short fine leg and scamper a tight single to clinch the championship.
But Da Silva and Rutherford rebuilt the chase with 37 and 25 respectively, building a bridge for the entry of Drakes. At a tournament which has had traditionally lopsided finals with the result decided well before the final over, Drakes produced far and away the most thrilling CPL ending of all. From one win and a last-place finish in 2020, Patriots had also capped arguably the most remarkable one-season turnaround in CPL history with their maiden championship.
Peter Della Penna is ESPNcricinfo’s USA correspondent @PeterDellaPenna