CPL REVIEW: Sunil Narine does it again as Trinbago Knight Riders make winning start

The Cricketer takes a look at some of the standout themes from the first day of action in the Caribbean Premier League at the Brian Lara Academy in Trinidad...

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Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Tridents made winning starts to their Caribbean Premier League campaigns on day one of the new competition, as several homegrown stars reminded the world just how good they are in the shortest format.

The Cricketer takes a look at some of the standout themes from the first day of action at the Brian Lara Academy in Trinidad.

Fine Narine

As unknown quantities go, Sunil Narine is up there with reality TV and the effects of one cocktail too many. Everyone on the T20 circuit is aware of just what the hustling Trinidiad can do yet, like a Wednesday night in front of I’m A Celebrity or a cool Cuba Libre on a hot summer afternoon, they remain too enchanted to resist.

And so, in the first hour of T20 franchise cricket’s return after its long coronavirus-enforced hiatus, Narine was back doing exactly what he has been doing for years, with the opposition seemingly powerless to stop him.

With the ball, he unveiled a slightly modified action, hiding the ball from view. His variations left Guyana Amazon Warriors’ batsmen struggling for rhythm; the more they showed intent to the 38-year-old, the more they appeared to be swatting at flies. 

Narine went for less than six an over - CricViz noted that it was the seventh time in eight CPL matches that he has done so - and returned figures of 2 for 19: an economy of 4.75, when no other bowler in the match managed better than 6.18.

Not content with containing Guyana to a gettable total, Narine then took it upon himself to get it. Having sat through a funereal innings from Lendl Simmons - Narine had 1 from 3 balls by the time his opening partner finally holed out for 17 from 21 - he motored through the gears, slapping balls of every length to the boundary, predominantly over mid-off and midwicket.

Narine’s 28-ball 50 was the foundation Trinbago needed in a chase of around 8.5 per over. Will anyone ever truly figure him out?

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Guyana Amazon Warriors were beaten by Trinbago Knight Riders

Why Guyana should be everyone’s favourite CPL team

If you’re coming across the CPL for the first time, and do not have any particular ties to the Caribbean, there’s really only one side to attach yourself to.

Guyana Amazon Warriors are the roller disco of this competition - fun, energetic, and packed full of character. And all of that was on display, even in defeat, on day one.

The Warriors’ top order is stacked with homegrown, exciting talent. Spend a day watching Brandon King, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran with the bat, and there’s no way you’re going home disappointed.

All it takes in T20 is for one of the quintet to come off, and on Tuesday it was Hetmyer. Perhaps carrying a few lockdown pounds, Hetmyer delivered a timely reminder of his free-range scoring with an unbeaten 44-ball 63 which was the bedrock of Guyana’s 144 for 5.

Their imports might not be headline-stealing, but they are mighty effective - and both Ross Taylor and Naveen-ul-Haq showed on day one just how important they will be to the Warriors over the course of the competition.

Taylor waddled through his first 11 balls, making 11, before adding 22 from his next 10 to support Hetmyer and - at the halfway stage - give Guyana real hope.

Naveen, the Afghanistan quick with the hanging delivery stride that gives off the slightest scent of Jasprit Bumrah, was the second most economical bowler of the day behind Narine and almost managed to claw victory from defeat’s bite at the death. 

With only 36 professional T20 appearances to his name, he’s certainly one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

And to top it all off, there is the comeback story of Chris Green - Australian spinning allrounder who was banned after having his action called up in the Big Bash, and has remodelled himself to become what appears to be a very slow swing bowler. 

What a team.

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Jason Holder's Barbados Tridents are defending champions

Barbados’s batting

One thing’s for certain after first viewing of the defending champions… the Tridents have more sharp prongs in their team logo than they do in their top order.

Barbados beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the second game on day one but at 8 for 3 in the third over of the match, they looked very much on a collision course with defeat.

Johnson Charles, Shai Hope and Corey Anderson all departed cheaply, leaving Jason Holder batting in the fourth over of a T20 alongside the 27-year-old Kyle Mayers, who went into the game with a career average of 14 from 50 matches.

The pair did salvage respectability, with Mayers particularly impressive in taking on the Patriots attack (a quick mention, here, for Sohail Tanvir - rested up after an excellent PSL - who bowled with discipline for his 2 for 25, and Sheldon Cottrell doing Sheldon Cottrell things with a miserly 2 for 16 from his four overs) but it was quickly undone when the Tridents found themselves 79 for 6.

St Kitts will reflect on how on earth they messed up those two positions, but their introspection can be tempered somewhat by the fact Rashid Khan was in the opposition.

The Afghanistani smashed a rapid 26 not out at the end, then took 2 for 27 with the ball, to lead the charge as Mitchell Santner (2-18) and Holder (who went for just 21 in four overs) squeezed the Patriots dry.

Still, it remains a dangerous tactic to rely on one half of the team to pull you out of trouble. Barbados’s title defence might hit a few waves if that doesn’t change fast.

And one last thing…

Ish Sodhi has cultivated some mighty fine facial hair during lockdown.

 

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