The second match from the Caribbean Premier League on Saturday is a repeat of the Florida opener when the Barbados Tridents take on the Guyana Amazon Warriors in what is do or die for the former champions.
Barbados go into this the match knowing they have to win to have any chance of making the playoffs and even if they do that they will still need other results to go their way. Guyana can secure second spot in the table with a win of their own.
Barbados Tridents
The concern for the Tridents heading to Florida was how they would cope without AB de Villiers and to a lesser extent without Wayne Parnell and Jason Holder and the answer on Thursday night is that they can’t and that has to be a real concern heading into a must win match. Matches like this need the real big players to stand up and be counted.
Kieron Pollard is the one in question. He has had a poor tournament and made little impact with a top score of 41 and an average of just over 20 and when he has had the ball in his hand he has been expensive. Now is the time for him to step up.
Guyana Amazon Warriors
Guyana have looked a good all-round side in this competition and I had the feeling this wicket would suit their batting line up perfectly and they didn’t let me down on Thursday. Nic Maddinson, Dwayne Smith and Chris Lynn love hitting through the line of the ball and that is exactly what they did to maximum effect in that match.
Credit should probably go to the Warriors’ bowling attack though. Barbados had got away from them early on but it is a sign of a good side that doesn’t panic and the way they fought back was very encouraging indeed. If they keep bowling well they could yet be the side to beat in the business stage of this tournament.
Betting
This is must win for Barbados but I fear the worst for them here I have to say. With this being the second match on the ground on the day you’ve got to think conditions are going to slow up the longer events go on and as we saw when they played their home matches that plays right into the hands of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
They have a wonderful spin combination and their seamers are all adept in taking the pace off the ball and acting as faster spinners. Barbados don’t really have that in their repertoire and I’m not convinced the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard are going to be suited to these sort of conditions.
All of that leads me to taking the Amazon Warriors to finally end the hopes of the Tridents and complete a quick fire double over the former champions.
Tips
WON – Back Guyana Amazon Warriors to beat Barbados Tridents for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Betfred
Back them here:
