The Caribbean Premier League play-offs get underway on Tuesday night with the first qualifier when the table topping Trinbago Knight Riders take on the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with the reward for the winners an automatic spot in the final of the competition.
All will not be lost for the losers of this match. They will get another shot at the final on Thursday but the pressure would then be on them in what would be a knockout semi-final. Neither side will want to go down that route.
Trinbago Knight Riders
The Knight Riders go into this qualifier off the back of a defeat in their last regular season match. That will have annoyed them because they had been so dominant prior to that. It remains to be seen whether that defeat was just down to a lack of intensity given that nothing was on the match for them, or if it is something more serious.
When you look at the Trinbago side there is no doubt these are the team to beat especially with home advantage throughout the play-offs but momentum and form can be key at this stage of the season so they need to put that defeat behind them as quickly as possible and focus on what is ahead.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
The Patriots only made it into this match on Sunday evening but they secured their place in style with a thrashing of the Barbados Tridents which saw them chase down 129 in just seven overs. That further evidenced the fact that when this lot are on it they are potentially the most potent side in the competition.
Much relies on their openers and if there is a concern for this team it is that the pair have had such a good tournament that those below them in the order haven’t had as much time in the middle as would be ideal. Their openers haven’t failed together too often though so that fear may not be necessary.
Team News
Trinbago Knight Riders will be forced into a change with Brendon McCullum ruled out of the tournament with the broken hand he picked up in the previous match. Dan Christian has replaced him and could make his debut.
The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots were so dominant in their last match that any changes would be enforced through injury or illness. That aside they may well stick with the same side.
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Betting
I’ve always liked the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots right throughout this competition and I am not going to desert them now. They have the best openers in the competition and a bowling attack that can adapt to any conditions.
In fairness the same can be said about the Trinbago Knight Riders’ attack but the loss of Brendon McCullum could be a huge one. He was their top scorer in the tournament and averaging over 50 an innings and scoring well in advance of a 160 strike rate. With him absent the opposing bowlers may not be under as much pressure which could allow the Patriots to settle in and use their own power to progress to the final.
Tips
WON – Back St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to beat Trinbago Knight Riders for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betfair
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