CPL DAILY: Narine, Nabi, Khan and Tahir all involved on a Sunday for the spinners

JACK BUTLER: The Cricketer looks ahead to the next round of Caribbean Premier League action.

tahirnabirashid220802-min

The double-headers continue at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Ground, with Sunday's fixtures once again promising some enthralling action. Here's what you can expect from the double-header

Who's playing?

Game One: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Tridents

Game Two: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Lucia Zouks

The Trinbago Knight Riders head in their third match of CPL20 with a 100 per cent record so far – two wins from two showed why many predicted Kieron Pollard's side as tournament favourites from the off. On Sunday, they take on the Barbados Tridents whose batting has hampered their CPL campaign. Their top three – Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, and Corey Anderson – scored just seven runs between them in their first match of CPL20; and had their middle-order to thank for an eventual six-run win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. 

The second game of the day sees the 2014 winners take on the side skippered by Darren Sammy. For the Zouks, Mohammed Nabi has impressed so far – a man of the match performance saw the all-rounder take 1-19 before he hit 15 off six to guide the Zouks to a rain-affected win over the Tridents. 

Anyone, in particular, I should watch out for?

Sunil Narine, the most economical bowler in CPL history, is, as always, someone to look out for. Two player of the match performances from the mystery spinner who has hit consecutive fifties at the top of the order and been equally imposing with his subtle variations during the opening matches of the CPL. On Thursday, Sunil Narine (1-19) and Fawad Armed (1-18) were once again the critical cogs in a Knight Riders' bowling attack that restricted Jamaica's power-hitters to just 135. 

At a very different stage of his playing career to Narine is West Indian youngster Jayden Seales, who made his CPL debut – and picked up two wickets - in the Knight Riders' comprehensive win over Jamaica Tallawahs. The talented teen's youthful exuberance is crucial to balancing a side littered with experienced heads – Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons to name a few of the West Indian old guard playing for the Trinbago Knight Riders. 

For the Tridents, Rashid Khan is the star of a bowling attack – the No.1 ranked T20 bowler has taken four wickets so far. 

In the later game, Imran Tahir will be the talk of the town. With the bat, the in form Shimron Hetmyer has been the star of the show so far – two consecutive fifties have seen the West Indian international hit 134 runs in his first two matches. Lethal. 

Their opponents, the St Lucia Zouks have Mohammed Nabi in their ranks. A particular hallmark of the Zouks line-up is their pinch-hitting power up top – Rahkeem Cornwall and Andre Fletcher will be worth a watch when they open the batting. Last year, fan-favourite Cornwall finished the season with a strike-rate of 190.97 – the highest of any player who had batted five innings.

cornwall220802_(1)

Rahkeem Cornwall is back to try and repeat last year's heroics

Predictions?

Trinbago to make it three from three against Barbados. 

Warriors to be victorious against the Zouks. 

Where can I watch both games?

Sky Sports have the rights in the UK and are promising to show all 33 CPL fixtures on their various platforms.

Will thunderstorms disrupt again?

Unfortunately, once again, there's a possibility. Highs of 32 degrees, see overcast conditions dominate as the threat of a thunderstorm in the local area means that Duckworth-Lewis calculators might be out again.

For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive four issues for £15

 

Comments

LATEST NEWS

STAY UP TO DATE Sign up to our newsletter...
SIGN UP

Thank You! Thank you for subscribing!

Units 7-8, 35-37 High St, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, LE128PY

website@thecricketer.com

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.