The Caribbean Premier League is back on Friday night as the CPL party is back in St Lucia for a clash between the bottom of the table and the leaders when the St Lucia Stars take on the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
After just one win in six matches the Stars may already need snookers but they certainly need to win their final four games to give themselves a good chance of going through. Guyana are in a wonderful position and a win here would only enhance that further.
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St Lucia Stars
It went from the sublime to the ridiculous for the St Lucia Stars. After a wonderful win over the Barbados Tridents in a match where they were excellent from start to finish they were as terrible as can be in an awful defeat to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. As an onlooker I can accept defeat but there are ways to lose and that was clueless.
One thing that defeat will have done is completely eliminate any doubt in their minds. They know they have to go out and win their last four matches. To help them in that quest they have successive home matches in the space of two nights so if they can get some positivity going they could ride a wave but we are talking about a side who have two wins to their name in the better part of two years.
Guyana Amazon Warriors
Guyana have won three of their four matches with their only loss coming in the second game of back-to-back matches in successive events and I’m always sympathetic of a side when that happens. They’ve been caught up by two sides but they have matches in hand of both of them so a win here will have them in pole position.
Going into the competition we knew what we were going to get from the Guyana bowling attack. Their success appeared to depend on whether their batting could get the job done and in that regard they have pleasantly surprised. If they can keep on going with the bat then it would be a surprise if they don’t make the play-offs and go deep into them.
Team News
It remains to be seen what St Lucia Stars do with their side but you can’t be bowled out for 69 and not make changes so something will have to happen. Lendl Simmons has offered little so far and could be vulnerable.
Guyana Amazon Warriors certainly don’t need to change their side although if Sohail Tanvir is fit again he is likely to come into the side. If not we can expect to see the same XI they fielded in Florida last weekend.
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Betting
I think it is hard to bet on anything other than a Guyana Amazon Warriors win here. I’m sometimes reluctant to back them on a good batting pitch but this is match four in St Lucia so the square will be a little worn and to be honest even if it is a good pitch the Guyana batting is showing good signs. It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world if St Lucia are a little careful with the bat after the shambles they put together in the last game. Guyana will be on the front foot and playing with freedom and if it starts to go tits up they have the experience in their order to rebuild. Guyana for me.
I’ll also have a speculative little punt on Qais Ahmed to be the top batsman for St Lucia. He top scored in the previous match and looked like he was the only player in this Stars line up that knew what to do against spin. Guyana could send down 12 overs of it should the pitch dictate that so if the top order make a mess of things the Afghan could be the one to capitalise with a few big hits.
Tips
Back Guyana Amazon Warriors to beat St Lucia Stars for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Back them here:
Back Q.Ahmed Top St Lucia Stars Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Betfred
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