The Caribbean Premier League returns after a night off on Tuesday and we are back at the Darren Sammy Stadium for the resumption when the bottom two in the table face off. St Lucia Stars take on the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in a big game for both sides.
The Stars got off the mark for the season in their last game but have played more than anyone else with the exception of Jamaica so they need to keep on winning. The Patriots also only have one win for the season but they have played two matches fewer than St Lucia so they are in a better position.
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St Lucia Stars
You have to give credit where it is due to the St Lucia Stars. To come back from being beaten the way they were by the Trinbago Knight Riders and to defeat the Barbados Tridents less than 24 hours later showed a real resolve and a determination that will serve them well for the remainder of the competition. They need to keep winning but the spirit they showed against the Tridents was good to see.
I think we’ve seen enough from the Stars in recent matches to suggest that their batting is firing on all cylinders but their problem appears to be with the ball, especially later in the innings. Their death bowling is terrible and if they are to do anything in this tournament that simply must improve. If it doesn’t the batsmen will need to keep on scoring big.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
We are yet to see any consistency from the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in this tournament but when you look down their line up you would think that it surely has to come at some point. The Patriots possibly bat as deep as any side in the competition and when you think their bowlers have restricted sides to under 180 in all three of their matches they should be winning more than they lose.
One problem that is becoming apparent is that even though they bat deep they are so reliant on their opening pair getting them off to a good start and setting the tempo for the big hitters down the order to build on. That hasn’t been happening though so that is something which will need to improve pretty quickly.
Team News
You wouldn’t think that St Lucia Stars will be eager to make changes after a win last time out but as they search for someone who can restrict sides at the death it may be that Odean Smith sits this match out.
I would expect the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to stick with Evin Lewis despite him barely getting a run in the tournament so far but you wonder how many chances he will get with a couple of other opening options in the squad.
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Betting
This isn’t actually a match I fancy going to mad on because in truth I don’t think much to either of these two sides and picking the winner is not going to be easy. The sheer nature of the ground makes me think the chasing side will win but I wouldn’t be surprised if either throw this one away. With that in mind I’m off to the side markets for a couple of bets.
I’ve backed the performance for Kieron Pollard in both matches on this ground so far. It has been 37.5pts for the first two matches where he has blasted 65 in no time at all and then 104. That has made the line move up to 38.5 but I still don’t think that is high enough. As well as clubbing the ball miles he fields in key areas and he will most probably bowl here given the power St Kitts have in their batting. Add the three scoring potentials together and Pollard should go way beyond 38.5 once again.
I’ve mentioned it a few times but terrible doesn’t do the St Lucia Stars bowling at the death justice. It is pathetic so I can’t ignore the 20/1 that Carlos Brathwaite comes in and goes ballistic on them. The danger is that he doesn’t make it in but I’m sure he’ll be the first candidate to go up the order 5-6 overs from home and then against this awful bowling he’ll be able to fill his boots. He smoked 41 off 15 balls against Trinbago earlier in the tournament. At 20/1 I’ll pay to see if he can tuck into this buffet too.
Tips
Back K.Pollard’s Performance – Over 38.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back C.Brathwaite Top St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
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