The Caribbean Premier League returns from the rest day with another double header of action on Saturday as four sides play their third game of the relatively new CPL 2020 campaign, on what could be a big day for all the teams.
The opening match of the day sees the two teams who were least fancied heading into the competition going at it as the currently winless St Kitts and Nevis Patriots take on the St Lucia Zouks out in Trinidad.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
It has not been the start to the season that the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots would have liked and you wonder if they have the personnel to rise to the challenge. The Patriots have been beaten by the Barbados Tridents and the Guyana Amazon Warriors in their opening two games and while there is nothing wrong with losing to the two finalists of last season, the manner and way they lost leaves a lot to be desired.
In both matches their batting has left them. That isn’t a fluke. It has happened because they are acutely aware that their batting is light in number and depth. There is a significant drop off after their top three and if they are going to be factors in this tournament they need to work something out about that. A pinch hitter might be the way forward. The other issue they’ve got is their openers don’t play spin very well and as wickets tire their already indifferent output is likely to get worse.
St Lucia Zouks
The St Lucia Zouks were given a pretty comfortable beating in their opening match by the Jamaica Tallawahs but they shocked the defending champions Barbados Tridents in their latest match in a game that was heavily affected by the rain. Their critics will argue that they were massively helped by the rain as it made the run chase almost a formality but what shouldn’t be forgotten is they were well on top in the match when the rain fell.
The Zouks have a light batting line up in terms of genuine batsmen but what they do have is a couple of handy finishers further down the order. They also have a decent mix of bowlers and if they can build up a little bit of momentum there is no reason why they can’t make the top four and who knows what can be achieved from there. There is a genuine case to be made that they have the best captain in the tournament and that shouldn’t be forgotten or underestimated.
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Key Men
St Kitts and Nevis are in desperate need of someone who can finish their innings with a flourish so they will be eagerly hoping that Sohail Tanvir has recovered from the calf issue that kept him out of the last game. That will also assist their bowling.
Mohammad Nabi produced a perfect all-round display in the win over the Barbados Tridents and if the Zouks are to get over the line here you would think his off spin and big hitting down the order will be needed once again.
Betting
I like the St Lucia Zouks in this match. The lack of depth in the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots batting line up is very much a concern and unless Sohail Tanvir is fit you fear for them if they lose a couple of early wickets. I don’t think it is any surprise that the Patriots are going to be sent down a fair bit of spin early doors. Mohammad Nabi is accustomed to bowling with the new ball while Saad Bin Zafar bowled well in the previous game.
I keep on saying that the longer this competition goes on the more I expect spin to play a key role so as well as the fact that they look light in the batting department, the other problem the Patriots are going to have is the lack of a real top class spinner. The St Lucia Zouks might not be the best side in the competition but they have some big batsmen and those not so heralded can get the job done. Their bowlers are of a decent enough standard too so the odds against on the Zouks will do me.
Tips
WON – Back St Lucia Zouks to beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with William Hill
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