As the sun sets this evening, the National Stadium at Providence will be home to Guyana’s first Hero Caribbean Premier League playoff match. The top four teams are prepared to compete for their spot in Sunday’s final, and both players and fans are excited for the occasion.
No introduction needed! The captains of Hero CPL 2018 top four teams
With anticipation mounting, the top four teams of the CPL 2018 season are ready and rearing to take apart their opponents. This intention was made clear by all four captains when the interacted with the media on Monday afternoon at the Marriott.
The youngest of the lot, Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Chris Green, has noted that the team is very confident after its win over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Sunday evening. Added to that, they are looking forward to a repeat of the marvellous home support.
“I think the Knight Riders have been the form team all competition, and they’ve played some really good cricket. We take a lot of confidence after last night’s clash”, Green stated
Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Chris Green as he addresses the media
The captain then went on to state, “We obviously got out home support here, which we thoroughly enjoyed this weekend. And I know our team’s really excited for what’s going to be a very good challenge.”
Touching on the advantage of being a top two team, Trinbago Captain Dwayne Bravo highlighted the uncertainty of going into the playoffs.
“The luxury of finishing one and two, you have two chances, but at the same time that doesn’t give you the right to make it to the finals cause’ you could easily have two bad games”, he explained
Meanwhile, Jamaica Tallawahs Captain Andre Russell is elated to be a part of the final four in his first stint as captain.
“I’m happy to be here in the top four. You know, it’s my first year as a captain, so that’s an achievement for me as well.”
St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots captain Chris Gayle stated that it took a lot of work to get to this stage. He admitteding that the top two holds the largest advantage. “Well, I have to be satisfied with where we’re at at this point. It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but it’s a fresh start for these four teams; but the team with the momentum has a slight edge.”
On a lighter note, the World Boss revealed his preferences for the cup.
“Well I can tell you this: it’s going to be St. Kitts or Jamaica winning the cup. Not Guyana, not Trinidad”, he stated.
One all. Who will it be?
The top four captains share a light moment during Monday’s press conference
Only a fortune-teller would be able to say whether the matchup between GAW and TKR will be similar to the duo’s encounter in Trinidad and Tobago last Wednesday, or a repeat of the shocker in Guyana on Sunday evening.
In last Wednesday’s encounter, TKR dismantled the Warriors’ line-up, bowling them out for just 103.
Playing at the Queen’s Park Oval, the Trinidad team built their 170 total on the back of Colin Munro’s 90 from 56. However, when it looked like Munro would secure another CPL hundred off the Warriors’ bowling, he was sent back by young Guyanese Romario Shepherd, who eventually took 3-29.
Despite Shepherd’s ability to pull back the home team, the Guyana Team’s batting crumbled under Ali khan’s 3-22 and Fawad Ahmed’s 2-20.
But the Warriors side on Sunday proved that they can be held to their name when they hosted Trinidad at the Providence National Stadium. The first task was holding back the Trinidadian batting, and this was helped by Rayad Emrit (2-25), who was rested in the previous match.
With the Warriors needing to reach the total of 155 in 15.3 overs to lock in the second position over the Jamaica Tallawahs, the Guyanese duo of Shimron Hetmyer (59 runs off 30 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (45 runs off 13 balls) blasted their way to a win in 14.1 overs.
One can only wonder whether the inclusion of Sunil Narine and Ali Khan in Trinidad’s bowling would have made the score a little less attainable. However, Captain of the Warriors, Chris Green, is aware of the fact that the duo will be back in today’s lineup, but remains confident of his team’s ability.
“We know they’re going to make some changes through the guys they rested last night. And I think it’s going to be a really exciting clash again”, Green admitted.
Whichever way the pendulum swings, one thing’s for sure: the Providence National Stadium this evening will see it rain in sixes and wickets, as both teams fight to the very last ball to ensure that they are the ones lifting the cup come Sunday evening.
Tomorrow evening, the Jamaica Tallawahs will face off with the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the same time and venue, after which the winner will take on the loser of Playoff one at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, September 14 at 8 pm.
When it is all decided, the ultimate clash will go down at the Brian Lara Stadium from 5pm on Sunday evening.
