The second half of the double header of action in the Caribbean Premier League on Saturday sees the bottom two sides meeting in what is a huge game for both as the Jamaica Tallawahs go up against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
Clearly it hasn’t been the campaign that either of these sides would have wanted so far but they have the chance to launch some confidence and a run of form which could yet get them into the semi-finals next month.
Jamaica Tallawahs
The Jamaica Tallawahs might have picked up a couple of wins from their five matches to date but they have looked a right mess the longer the competition has gone on. One of those wins came in their first game so they have three losses from four since then. Such has been the up and down nature of everyone apart from Trinbago Knight Riders though, they are anything but out of semi-final contention if they can string some form together.
If there is a consolation from this poor run of form for the Tallawahs recently it comes from the fact that they won’t need to search too hard for what is going wrong. They haven’t put up more than 140 with the bat in their last four matches, and in the most recent three of those they haven’t even made it to 120. It goes without saying that if they are going to get their tournament back on track, then that simply has to improve.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
It hasn’t been much better for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots either. They only have one win from their opening five matches so this one is probably more important for them than it is for their opponents. The Patriots beat the Barbados Tridents the match before last but the concern is that they did their best to lose that one as well. I’ve never once thought that the St Kitts and Nevis side were set up to do well in this tournament and that is how it has proved.
One of their problems has been that they are always losing wickets early on in their innings. It is the worst kept secret in the entire competition that their batsmen can’t play spin and as a result they are extremely fortunate if they see a seamer early on. Until their ability to play spin changes it is hard to see them picking up results. The other problem which stood out a mile off is their own spin options are not good enough.
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Key Men
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is now the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 12 scalps from five matches and he will surely be licking his lips at the thought of getting at this St Kitts batting line up on this Queens Park Oval track.
Not many players have come out of the tournament in positive credit for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots so far but Ben Dunk can hold his head up high. I’m not convinced that the middle order is the best place for him to bat but he is doing it well and he might even get asked to turn his arm over again.
Betting
With dew not going to be a factor in this second match with it taking place earlier over the weekend, I’ve got to think Mujeeb Ur Rahman will keep up his impressive tournament so far. There hasn’t been many batsmen in the tournament who have been able to pick him so I certainly don’t expect this terrible at playing spin Patriots outfit to fare any better, and as a result it would be a huge surprise if the Afghan star is not among the wickets here.
Mujeeb has taken three wickets in three of his five matches this season and two in another so the 6/5 on him covering a 1.5 wickets line looks huge. The only match he didn’t cover this line in was the one against the Trinbago Knight Riders but they are the best batting team in the tournament and even then he took 1/13 from his four overs. His other figures in the competition have been 2/25, 3/18, 3/11 and 3/14. He’s bowling brilliantly and has to have a better than even money chance of picking up at least two more wickets here.
Tips
Back M.Ur Rahman – Over 1.5 wickets for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Bet365
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