JACK BUTLER: The Cricketer previews the next two games in the CPL as teams look to find form before the knock-out stages...
Game One: Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks
Game Two: Jamaica Tallawahs vs Barbados Tridents
The best of the worst - the Jamaica Tallawahs, who have stumbled into the semi-finals, face the Barbados Tridents whose semi-final hopes were ended on Thursday after another heavy defeat to Guyana Amazon Warriors.
In their last meeting, the Tridents beat the Tallawahs by 36 runs, thanks to an 85 from Kyle Mayers. Barbados have struggled repeatedly with the bat, scoring 89 and 92 in their two previous outings. Mayers and Johnson Charles have hit over 440 runs between them but they have lacked decent support through their run. That will have to change if they're to go all the way.
The Tallawahs' blueprint of six-hitting and spin has muscled them into the knockout stage. A team of power-hitting match-winners is dangerous, but they need to find form before the semi-finals. They'll have half an eye on avoiding an early meeting with the unbeaten Trinbago Knight Riders but they must win their final two matches to force their way into the top three.
The early game sees first plays third as unbeaten Trinabgo Knight Riders face the St Lucia Zouks, in what could yet be a dress rehearsal of the final. In their previous meeting, a Duckworth-Lewis affected run-chase, the Knight Riders ran out comfortable winners in a six-wicket victory.
Expect the Knight Riders to ring the changes once again ahead of the knock-out stage. Their rotation policy has displayed their strength in depth; players have stepped up in the absence of Sunil Narine and Dwanye Bravo - Lendl Simmons hitting 96, and Kieron Pollard dispatching a Tridents attack for a majestic 72.
Kieron Pollard has made a habit of clearing the boundary
Their opponents, St Lucia, have struggled with the bat in recent games, though they defended 92 against the Tridents. Worryingly, the Zouks haven't passed 120 in their last four games with Rahkeem Cornwall and Andre Fletcher struggling to get their team off to the right start.
For the Tridents, Sandeep Lamichhane has taken 10 wickets so far, with a best of 2-8. His spin colleague, Rashid Khan also has 10 wickets, but following his promotion further up the order he has suffered two-second ball ducks in recent weeks. Perhaps, the No.1 ranked T20 bowler will finally show what he can do with the bat.
The Tallawahs have Andre Russell in their line-up, but expect a few of their numerous all-rounders - Carlos Brathwaite, in particular - to find some form before the knock-out stages.
Elsewhere, St Lucia's Daren Sammy has occupied something of a quasi-coach role. He hasn't impressed with either bat and ball, but with his field placings. Sammy will want to find some form to justify his inclusion as something other than a specialist tactician.
Trinbago's spinners have shone in their previous outings. If Narine plays he is worth monitoring but if rested, as expected, Khary Pierre and Pravin Tambe have shone in his absence taking nine wickets between them in recent games. Likewise, Kieron Pollard has hit form recently in a side stocked with middle-order power-hitting.
Kieron Pollard is undoubtedly the @Dream11 MVP for match 17! What a beast! #CPL20 #CricketPlayedLouder pic.twitter.com/QoY2sfBfPp
— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 29, 2020
The Knight Riders to continue their unbeaten run with victory over the Zouks.
Too little too late as a frustrated Tridents to beat the Tallawahs.
Sky Sports have the rights in the UK and are showing all 33 CPL fixtures on their various platforms.
Cloudy intervals accompanied by a shower or thunderstorm is expected. Both games might be interrupted, but overs shouldn't be lost.
The Cricketer's coverage of the CPL comes in collaboration with the Caribbean Cricket Podcast
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