Barbados?Tridents are resurgent and raising their game at the right time, the Amazon Warriors are seeking redemption and appear the stronger team on paper.
It adds up to what should be an intriguing clash at the Warner Park ground in St Kitts this afternoon in the final of the Caribbean Premier League.
Both teams are packed with match winners. Amazon Warriors boast opener Lendl Simmons, whose 426 runs at an average of 53, have been the most in the tournament, while his opening partner, New Zealander Martin Guptill has been the most consistent batsman in the tournament with five half-centuries.
These two have three century partnerships and should they fail, the Warriors can turn to a explosive middle order that comprises Pakistani Mohammad Hafeez, New Zealander Jimmy Nesham, and power hitters captain Denesh Ramdin and Christopher Barnwell.
Sunil Narine, 26, a world-class act in this format of the game, will lead their attack with the left-arm fast medium Krishmar Santokie. Narine, the most economical bowler in the competition – he is going at four and a half runs per over – is expected to have an absorbing duel in the middle overs with the former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, the best player of spin in the Tridents side.
Tridents have opener Dwayne Smith, who has struck two centuries en route to gathering 294 runs, while Malik, who has 351 runs, remains key to a middle order that has proven to be inconsistent. Flamboyant leader Kieron Pollard has a strike rate of 140, but his sizzling 63 against the Jamaica Tallawahs in the final preliminary game has been his only real blast so far.
Young guns Raymon Reifer and William Perkins must know they have an important role with the bat while the fast-rising Jason Holder can swing the match the Tridents way with either bat or ball.
Holder’s new-ball spell and showdown with Simmons and Guptill may be even more important than his bold strokeplay. But swing bowler Ravi Rampaul, the leading bowler in the tournament with 18 scalps at 12.61, is known for reaping early success and could cause problems for the free-scoring Amazon Warriors’ openers.
Amazon Warriors’ coach Roger Harper is mindful of not repeating the same mistakes of last year, which saw them falter in Port of Spain.
“This time around we will be looking to produce our best cricket when it counts,” he stressed.
Amazon Warriors finished second on 12 points with a 6-3 record that was shared by the top four finishers. Tridents, however, topped the standings courtesy of a superior net run rate and booked their spot in the final.
After watching Tallawahs beat Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel by four wickets on Wednesday, Amazon Warriors promptly greeted them in the second play-off with a resounding ten-wicket defeat – the first ever in CPL history.
The performance sent a stern warning to Tridents but Pollard said his side were not fazed.
“The Warriors played very well but I am not worried,” said Pollard.
“We will do our preparation and get ourselves ready for playing them, but we are going to concentrate on our strengths rather than worry too much about theirs.”
When the two teams met during the Barbados leg of the tournament, Amazon Warriors came away with a narrow seven-run victory and Pollard is aware his side can leave nothing to chance.
“They beat us at home a few weeks ago, so we know we will have to bring our ‘A-Game’ on Saturday to win,” he said.
“They do have dangerous bowlers in the form of (Sunil) Narine and (Krishmar) Santokie, however, when the bad ball comes, we will look to capitalise on it and it should be an exciting match.” (MK/CMC)
SQUADS:
BARBADOS TRIDENTS (from) – Kieron Pollard (captain), Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Rayad Emrit, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Neil McKenzie, Kyle Mayers, Jeevan Mendis, Ashley Nurse, William Perkins, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith.
GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS (from) – Denesh Ramdin (captain), Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Veerasammy Permaul, Christopher Barnwell, Lendl Simmons, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Navin Stewart, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus.
