The 2021 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is done and dusted and Stabroek Sport has picked six of the most impactful local players this season. While the list does not include mainstays of the West Indies T20 outfit, players with less than 10 matches under their belt were included.
Unanimously, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Roston Chase, would be on any list of outstanding players this season.
Chase, who is yet to play a T20I but was awarded a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad finished as the leading run scorer. The St. Lucia Kings middle-order batsman finished with 446 runs from his 12 matches with four half-centuries. His strike rate of 144 is among the highest while his average of 49 is also among the best of the season.
Chase also showed his worth with the ball as he bagged 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.92 with his off-spin. He also proved to be a talisman in the field with seven catches.
Next on the list is Guyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder, Romario Shepherd. Shepherd produced a special innings in the final group stage match with a magnificent 72 not out to put Warriors into the semi-final. While his side did not go onto the final, he ended with 109 runs at a strike rate of 165. However, it was with the ball that Shepherd came to the biggest party in sport. His death bowling was arguably the best of the bowlers, picking up 18 wickets with an economy rate of 7.69. Another bowler to make the list is Shepherd’s Warriors teammate, Odean Smith. The burly Jamaican showed his consistency to bowl in excess of 140 km/h. Smith equaled Shepherd’s tally of 18 wickets at a strike rate of 14.88. With the bat, his nine innings produced 126 runs with a strike rate of 132. In the field he has also taken six catches.
Man of the Final, Dominic Drakes, produced an all-round performance that secured St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots their maiden title. Drakes scored 102 at a strike rate of 161 while also picking up 16 wickets at an economy rate of 8.56.
Sherfane Rutherford of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots was instrumental in their early dominance, scoring three half centuries in four innings and went on to make 262 runs at a strike rate of 127. He also finished with the most catches of any fielder with 11 takes.
Jamaica Tallawahs Kennar Lewis also gave a good account of himself this season with two half-centuries. While unable to inspire his side to a place in the semi-final, Lewis ended the season with 262 runs at a strike rate of 164. He also took five dismissals behind the stumps.
Other notable mentions were Chandrapaul Hemraj (254 runs, 133 s/r), Jeavor Royal (12 wickets), Gudakesh Motie (8 wickets, 6.52 econ), Jon Ross Jaggesar (9 wickets, 8.13 econ), and Mark Dyal (159 runs, 135 s/r).
