ABOUT THE MATCH
There is a place in the Caribbean Premier League 2019 final, and a showdown with Guyana Amazon Warriors, awaiting the winner of the second qualifier between Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Tridents. The match will take place on October 12.
Trinbago Knight Riders arrested an alarming slide in form just in time to keep their title defense alive. They had now won since starting the tournament with four victories in a row, but an excellent bowling performance and Lendl Simmons’ half-century helped them see off St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the eliminator.
Barbados, meanwhile, surged up the table with a late run of form – instigated in particular by the bowling of Harry Gurney and Hayden Walsh Jr – but they came unstuck in the qualifier when Brandon King fired Guyana Amazon Warriors into the final. Nevertheless, this is another chance for the Tridents to reach the final, against a team they beat twice during the league phase.
TOSS PREDICTION
Barbados have lost the toss in each of their last two matches, including against Trinbago. They are due to win this one and, having been asked to field first in each of the last two games, they may choose to this time on a wicket offering more to the bowlers than the previous two.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast throughout the day in Trinidad, and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy is set to get a soaking. If it clears, it will only be later in the evening.
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy wicket, used for the finals of the previous two Caribbean Premier League seasons too, has tended to be well-balanced. It gives something to the bowlers, with scores of 160 above par looking at the record books.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Trinbago Knight Riders
Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Kieron Pollard (c), Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Chris Jordan, Seekkuge Prasanna, Khary Pierre, Ali Khan, Akeal Hosein
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Barbados Tridents
Johnson Charles (wk), Alex Hales, Shakib-al-Hasan, Shai Hope, JP Duminy, Jonathan Carter, Jason Holder (c), Ashley Nurse, Raymon Reifer, Hayden Walsh Jr, Harry Gurney
MATCH PREVIEW
Trinbago Knight Riders
- Sunil Narine’s return from injury was timely ahead of the play-offs. He took 2-10 from four overs and, while his batting did not match, he is a much bigger influence in the side than Mark Deyal.
- Seekkuge Prasanna also played, with Jimmy Neesham missing out.
- Trinbago Knight Riders lost five of their last six league games, with the only other match a no result, but got back to winning ways in the play-offs.
- Their final league game was a seven-wicket defeat to Guyana Amazon Warriors but their bowlers helped them bounce back against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
- Chris Jordan took 3-30 and Sunil Narine 2-10 as the Patriots were restricted to 125/7 before Lendl Simmons’ half-century led Trinbago Knight Riders to a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare.
Barbados Tridents
- As expected, Shai Hope returned from injury last time out replacing Justin Greaves to bolster an already improved Barbados Tridents line-up.
- Harry Gurney and Shakib Al Hasan have joined the team late in CPL 2019 season, while Dan Christian did too but has not featured it is no surprise the Tridents promptly rose up the table.
- Barbados won three of their four final league matches, including a seven-wicket victory after Johnson Charles’ half-century, helped them chase 135 against Trinbago Knight Riders in their last league game.
- They could not carry that form into the first play-off match, however, the Tridents reaching 188/8 in reply to Guyana Amazon Warriors’ 218/3 at Providence Stadium.
PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:
Trinbago Knight Riders are favorites to beat Barbados Tridents but the Tridents beat them twice in the group stage and are definitely capable of upsetting the odds again.
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