Final game of CPL 2022: Royals, Tallawahs to electrify Providence Stadium
–– in this evening’s battle for supremacy
By Brandon Corlette
Having both demonstrated consistency, determination and ruthlessness throughout the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League matches, the Barbados Royals and the Jamaica Tallawahs will this evening confront each other in the ultimate battle for the right to claim ownership of the CPL Championship Trophy.
Cornwall has shown his dominance in the last match he played
Neither team should expect any favours when their epic engagement commences at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence from 19:00h, and both captains, Kyle Mayers and Rovman Powell, are determined to emerge victorious after this mega clash.
Tallawahs’ bowling is led by Amir and Wasim
For Powell, winning the CPL title would mean the world to him, while Mayers noted that his side is refreshed and is hoping for the final to go in their direction.
“It would mean the world to me. The past two seasons that I have captained the team, it hasn’t gone well for the franchise, so now for us to be in the final, for me to captain the team to the final, and maybe a CPL Championship, would go well for me personally and go well for the franchise,” Powell said at the pre-final media conference at Pegasus on Thursday.
As West Indies vice-captain, Powell is hoping that the Jamaican franchise, which is owned by a Guyanese businessman and coached by the legendary Shivnarine Chanderpaul, can ‘go all the way’.
An update on Amir’s injury was not given at the press conference
“The Tallawahs haven’t tasted victory for a few years,” he said of the franchise that last won the title in 2016. “We have sat down and said we are a better franchise than that; so, hopefully, given the opportunity tomorrow (Friday), we will do our best to change that (losing streak). The guys are feeling really upbeat. Barbados is a very strong team, possibly the best team in the CPL so far, so the guys are upbeat about facing the challenge,” Powell has said.
Powell was unable to give an update on Mohammad Amir, who left the field in the second Qualifier with an injury. He also noted that Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sir Curtly Ambrose have been greatly inspiring to the team with their vast knowledge.
For their part, the in-form Royals will be aiming to repeat that dominance they displayed against the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the first qualifier, wherein Rahkeem Cornwall and Azam Khan decimated the bowlers.
Chris Green knows the conditions well at Providence
“I think the guys came back well against Guyana. We started out the day before the game and we spoke about being positive, and we came out on top. We have been relaxing, and hopefully tomorrow goes well,” Mayers has said.
For the Royals, Mayers has led the batting charts with 337 runs. He is two runs behind Tallawahs’ opener Brandon King (339). Rovman Powell has 267 runs, and he will be aiming to contribute more, as would the centurion Shamarh Brooks. Imad Wasim and Amir have each taken 16 wickets, while Jason Holder (16) and Obed McCoy (15) are among the leading bowlers this season.
Tallawahs Squad: Brandon King, Kennar Lewis(w), Shamarh Brooks, Rovman Powell(c), Raymon Reifer, Fabian Allen, Mohammad Nabi, Imad Wasim, Chris Green, Nicholson Gordon, Mohammad Amir, Shamar Springer, Amir Jangoo, Migael Pretorius, Joshua James, Kirk McKenzie, Jamie Merchant
Royals Squad: Rahkeem Cornwall, Kyle Mayers(c), Harry Tector, Azam Khan, Jason Holder, Corbin Bosch, Devon Thomas(w), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hayden Walsh, Nyeem Young, Joshua Bishop, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Ramon Simmonds, Teddy Bishop, Justin Greaves.
