The Caribbean Premier League is back in action on Tuesday and as we head towards the second half of the regular season, every match is taking on extra significance and importance and that is certainly the case for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who host the Trinbago Knight Riders in the latest showing in the competition.
This is a match between the two sides who sit third and second in the table respectively. Trinbago have a perfect record for the competition so far whereas the Patriots have just two wins from six matches and desperately need more victories with games beginning to run out.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
The Patriots picked up a much needed win against the St Lucia Zouks last time out and they have to go on a bit of a winning run from here on in if they are going to guarantee themselves a play-off spot. This match is of particular importance to them as this is their final home match of the campaign. Not only is it important to finish off a home term positively but going on the road is always a challenge in this event and if they embark on that with just two wins it will be hard to extend their tournament.
Much of the success of the Patriots side will revolve around their batting. When they have batted well they have generally come out on top because in the main their bowling has got the job done. When they haven’t batted like they can they have been exposed because although that is the weakness of their side there is no middle ground with them. They are either excellent with the bat or terrible.
Trinbago Knight Riders
The defending champions must be enjoying where they are in the tournament. I say that for a couple of reasons. Firstly they have won every match they have played so far without truly being at their very best and secondly because they have only played one match in the last nine days so they have had a chance to reflect on that they have done right and wrong and put plans in place accordingly as they look to make it three titles in a row.
The Knight Riders are riding into gear nicely. If there was a concern in the early part of the tournament it was with their batting but they answered those doubts last time out when they made the highest score in T20 franchise history last time out. Already they are looking like the team to beat in this tournament but they will know these things aren’t necessarily about how you start a season but more about how you finish it.
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Team News
Given their win last time out there is every chance that the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will be unchanged for this match, if for nothing else than because they don’t really have another batsman to come in without changing the balance of the team.
Darren Bravo was available for the Trinbago Knight Riders last time out but it is unlikely he will be able to force his way into this batting line up just yet. The champions will be forced into one change as Mohammad Hasnain has been recalled from the tournament by Pakistan. Anderson Philip or Javon Searles will come in for him.
Betting
I think Trinbago Knight Riders will win this match, they look better with the bat and the ball but we know T20 doesn’t always work out like that and they are plenty short enough anyway so it is the side markets once again for me. Not surprisingly I’m going to have another go at the sixes here, where the 16.5 line is too tempting. This is a small ground. Even in the last match here where neither side made 150 there was still 12 sixes so the potential for 17 of them is high. On a bigger ground in Trinidad on the opening night of the season the two combined for 16 sixes and both batting line ups have come on leaps and bounds since then. Colin Munro and Laurie Evans have come into the competition since then so there is a natural potential for more sixes here. I like over 16.5 in this one.
The longer this competition has gone on the more the mystery spinners are beginning to dominate it and given that St Kitts and Nevis Patriots only have one it might pay to be on him to be their top bowler. That is Usama Mir who didn’t take a wicket in the first three matches but did bowl three good overs in the reverse meeting between these two, going for just 19 runs. As the pitches have tired though he has come into his own and against the mite of this batting line up he could be the one to make hay the most. Trinbago aren’t losing many wickets right now so a couple of scalps could be enough to land a punt at 9/2.
Tips
WON – Back Over 16.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
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VOID – Back U.Mir Top St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 5.50 with Betfred
Back him here:
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