The top two teams at the end of the preliminary rounds of this year’s Caribbean Premier League meet tonight at the Providence National Stadium for a place in Sunday’s grand finale.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders Franchise teams meet tonight knowing that there is a distinct possibility that a win tonight might not result in the other team going away for good. In fact, there is every likelihood that the two teams will meet again in Sunday’s final.
However, a win tonight will certainly be half of the job completed.
The Amazon Warriors ended the preliminary competition on 17 points after winning eight matches, losing one with the other being a no-result while the Trinbago Knight Riders won six of their matches and lost three and also had a no-result.
On their way to winning the preliminary competition they also defeated the Trinbago Knight Riders twice although to be fair the Knight Riders did rest a couple of key players in the second match.
The Trinbago Knight Riders’ batting will depend on opener Martin Guptill and Nicholas Pooran, who have both scored centuries this season.
Guptill scored the first century for his team against the Barbados Royals, scoring an unbeaten 100 out of his team’s 194-5.
Pooran’s century, 102, also came against the Barbados Royals whom they defeated by 42 runs at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Trinidad also have Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard two of the biggest hitters in the T20 format along with opener Mark Deyal and all-rounders Sunil Narine and Akeal Hosein in what is a formidable batting line up.
The Amazon Warriors batting will depend on Shai Hope who scored a century also against the Barbados Royals in the team’s final preliminary game and who has been a model of consistency.
Opener Saim Ayub, scored three consecutive half centuries before appearing to have fallen away while Shimron Hetmyer is yet to find his best form although Azad Khan has been a revelation batting in the middle.
All-rounder Keemo Paul was injured in the game against the Royals and the hope is that he has fully recovered and is ready for today’s game while another all-rounder Romario Shepherd has been excellent thus far with bat and ball.
However, the selectors might also consider giving Paul a few more days rest, since the Warriors will have another bite at the cherry even if they lose tonight.
Whether the Warriors will continue with Odean Smith opening the batting remains to be seen and Kevlon Anderson did put his hand up for selection with his innings of 47 against the Royals in his CPL debut.
Skipper Imran Tahir will lead the Warriors spin attack with support from Gudakesh Motie, while Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorious should share the new ball duties.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors have never won this competition and as such, a win tonight while it will not fully satisfy those fans who want nothing else but a title triumph, it will certainly give them hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be their year.
