Home Sports Summer’s biggest party ends with Warriors-TKR tussle for Hero CPL...
Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018
Two experienced and skilful old rivals will engage in competition today for one last time this season when the Guyana Amazon Warriors, chasing their elusive dream, confront defending champs Trinbago Knight Riders in a season-ending battle for the coveted Hero CPL 2018 Championship title and accompanying bragging rights.
The action, expected to be scintillating, bowls off at 17:00h at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Defending champs TKR, showing remarkable grit and determination, clawed their way back into the finals after the Warriors had handed them back-to-back losses at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. They defied the odds to beat the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on Friday night at the Brian Lara Academy and set up a match that could possibly see them retaining their title at home.
But the Trinbago Knight Riders could just as well find themselves surrendering the title to the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who seemingly have their number heading into this encounter.
With a few days off to rest and assess the conditions in Trinidad, the Warriors — now in the finals for the 4th time — are more dangerous than ever. Their ruthless disposing of the champs during the knockout stages has exhibited a settled resolve to emerge victorious, and they will rely on their young crop of power-hitters to inflict more damage on the competition.
Much will revolve around leading run-scorer Shimron Hetmyer, who has been in blazing form with a hundred and a few fifties under his belt. Currently playing his first full Hero CPL season for the Warriors, the left-hander is the X-factor in this game, especially with his role in the two losses.
Sherfane Rutherford has stepped up in a major way, and has become the Warriors’ go-to pinch-hitter in a crisis. His six sixes against TKR will still be fresh in their memories come Sunday.
Apart from the two Guyanese, the seniors in Luke Ronchi, Chadwick Walton, Jason Mohammed and Sohail Tanvir will have to maintain their batting form. Tanvir, with his six off Bravo in the previous encounter, has blasted Guyana into the finals.
Colin Munro, the Trinbago left-hander, is the leading run-getter with a whopping 499 runs; while Hetmyer follows not too far behind with 425 runs, making either batsman capable of ending the tournament as leading overall run-scorer.
The Warriors will be backing their world-class battery of bowlers, mostly their spinners, who have played key roles throughout the tournament. Captain Chris Green, leg-spinner Imran Tahir, and possibly any of the options, including Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, could slot it nicely in the attack, if needed.
TKR have confirmed that Sunil Narine could be out of the finals, while the Warriors might have to play without Keemo Paul.
The change in venue to their home turf would have the Champs booming with confidence despite losing to the Warriors in Guyana. The Patriots discovered on Friday that the TKR were too much to handle in their backyard.
Aussie leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is the leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps; while Tahir, with 16, will certainly prove a challenge at Tarouba. Most of the TKR batsmen have been clicking in match-winning ways, but their last game on Friday saw meagre knocks of 20 apiece from a few of their batters playing big roles.
TKR will back Ahmed for luck, while pacer Ali Khan, spinner Kharry Pierre and Skipper Dwayne Bravo himself will be crucial with the ball. The sides are evenly balanced on paper, and both units will have much to prove, as they have faced off before in the past for high stakes. These considerations have set a scene for possibly one of the most intriguing finals in Hero CPL history to be played today. (Clifton Ross)
