The Caribbean Premier League returns from the rest day on Saturday with another CPL 2021 double header as the runaway leaders St Kitts and Nevis Patriots take on the Saint Lucia Kings in what could be a tasty matchup.
The Patriots head into this match still unbeaten in the competition and were they to record a sixth successive win here they would put more than one foot in the semi-finals. Saint Lucia won their last match and are hoping to launch a head of steam now.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are showing no signs of slowing down and must be starting to feel like they are invincible after performing something of a Houdini act against the Barbados Royals last time out. To be fair to them they looked dead and buried after a run of wickets in the run chase but they never stopped believing they could win and in the end Sheldon Cottrell performed heroics to get them over the line in a match they looked like losing.
The fact St Kitts and Nevis needed to go to the well like that is actually something of a surprise because they look like the best balanced side in the competition, and prior to that match they were winning their games with plenty to spare. Getting out of trouble in that fashion will make them feel like they can win from any position so they will need to avoid allowing complacency to set in as that looks their biggest opponent at present.
Saint Lucia Kings
The Saint Lucia Kings have put in two strong performances in this tournament so far and two very indifferent ones so it is difficult to know what to expect from the side that were beaten in the final last term. In their two wins there have been signs of the team which made it all the way to the title showdown last season but in the other two they have resembled a club team. It goes without saying that they need to find some consistency if they are to fight for the title again this season.
I think with the exception of that horrible opening match, the Saint Lucia Kings bowling has looked in decent enough order. I expect that unit to come into their own as these pitches continue to wear as the competition goes on. I am a little worried about their batting though. A brilliant innings from Roston Chase got them over the line in their last match but they aren’t functioning as a unit at the minute and need to start doing that.
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Key Men
It may well be that the easiest time to score runs against this Saint Lucia Kings attack is up front against the new ball so the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots may need a fast start from Evin Lewis to have them ahead of the rate when it gets tougher.
Obed McCoy is as deceptive as they come with the ball in this format of the game and Saint Lucia Kings may well need him to come good with his four overs to try and restrict this pretty powerful St Kitts and Nevis batting unit.
Betting
There is a part of me that thinks the Saint Lucia Kings might be a touch of value in this match but you have to be extremely brave to take on this St Kitts and Nevis Patriots side with the form they are in at the minute. They have only played one match in the afternoon when the pitches have played much harder than in the evening so that might be significant here. I can’t take on the Patriots though so I’ll go for the other bet I like which is under 306.5 runs.
I’ve mentioned in the last couple of day games how tough this particular wicket looks to be playing during the day and I believe we have one more day on it before we move for Sunday’s action. It might play slightly better after no play on Friday but I still fancy these two bowling attacks to be on top for the most part. Saint Lucia can be very hard to get away but the Patriots have taken regular wickets this season. On a pitch which might not be conducive to batting and with bowlers in both sides who can take all the pace off the ball this runs line might be out of reach.
Tips
Back Under 306.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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