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After a month of high octane action in the CPL, we have our four semi finalists. Trinbago Knight Riders will take on St Lucia Kings in the first semi-final, while Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots will battle it out in the second on Tuesday, September 14.
Kieron Pollard’s TKR topped the points table with 12 points, winning six out of 10 matches. The Warriors and Patriots also finished with 12 points each, but TKR had the best net run-rate in the league of +0.700. GAW claimed the second spot with +0.109. SKNP finished third due to -0.328 net run-rate, and St Lucia Kings finished fourth with 10 points.
TKR defeated SKNP in the last game of the league stage to leapfrog both GAW and SKNP. Chasing 148, captain Pollard went berserk from the first delivery and smashed 51 off 22.
St Lucia Kings lost their last game against Barbados Royals by eight wickets. SLK posted 190/6 on the board but couldn’t defend it as the Royals chased it down with ease. SLK will have to thank Guyana for defeating Jamaica and sealing their top four spot.
The Riders have won the competition four times and are defending champions. St Lucia Kings have never won a trophy and will have a chance to take revenge for the CPL 2020 Final loss against the Knight Riders.
Key Players
Kieron Pollard has had a terrific career in T20 cricket with over 11000 runs at an average of 31.80 and strike rate of 152.88, including one century and 56 half centuries. He also has 298 wickets at an economy of 8.21. Pollard has been magnificent for Trinbago. Despite batting lower down the order, he is their top run-getter of this season with 235 runs at 39.16 and 154.60. The 34-year-old is coming fresh off a 22-ball-51 run knock against the Patriots.
Sunil Narine has carved himself an incredible career in the format, having claimed 411 wickets in 366 innings at a stellar economy of 6.05 with the help of one five-wicket haul and 11 four-fers. He has also shown his batting prowess with pinch hitting, scoring 2685 runs at 143.96 strike rate. Narine has been brilliant this season, taking 11 wickets at a superb economy of 4.53.
Roston Chase showed a glimpse of potential in the last season and has absolutely bossed this season, doing the most difficult job of no. 4. He’s on the top of the batting charts, having amassed 367 runs in 10 matches at a magnificent average and strike rate of 52.42 and 147.98, respectively. Chase has hammered four fifties in the process, including 56 off 38 in the last game. The all-rounder has been excellent with the ball as well, picking nine wickets while conceding at only 6.93 rpo.
Jeavor Royal has done a terrific job for SLK becoming their top wicket-taker. The 22-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner has made the best use of conditions to claim 12 wickets in just seven innings at an economy of 6.75. Royal has picked three 3-wicket hauls in the tournament, with best bowling figures of 3/19 against Warriors. Royal will be a key player for the Kings and will have an opportunity to make his impact on the big stage.
Prediction
Trinbago Knight Riders have completely owned St Lucia Kings in this rivalry, winning 14 matches and losing three. This season between the two teams, SLK won the first game by five runs before TKR levelled the scoreline with a 27-run victory.
TKR are a champion side and know everything about winning big matches. They have a very solid batting unit comprising Lendl Simmons, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard – where everyone has contributed. The bowling department of Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul and Jayden Seales has been very potent throughout the tournament.
SLK have had issues with consistency in the bowling department, conceding 190+ thrice in the season. Their batting has been mostly led by Roston Chase, with Faf du Plessis, Andre Fletcher and Tim David making good contributions. Anything can happen in the knockout matches but the Knight Riders will head into the semi final as favourites.
