Story and photos by Jemima Holmes in Barbados
After 35 matches of excitement, twists, upsets, rocking parties, and truly entertaining cricket, the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 has finally reached the business end – the playoffs.
The do-or-die stage of the tournament starts today, Wednesday, September 16, where a win guarantees a lifeline and a loss could mean the end of the road for some.
To start the rivalries, the Barbados Tridents and the Jamaica Kingsmen will face off tonight in Eliminator One, by virtue of finishing third and fourth, respectively, after this year’s league phase.
But things haven’t been all sweet for the home side, who turned around their season to march into the playoffs confidently. On the other hand, the visitors are 0-2 against the Tridents so far this season and will need a massive turnaround to book a place in Qualifier Two on Friday.
The do-or-die stage of the tournament starts today, Wednesday, September 16, where a win guarantees a lifeline and a loss could mean the end of the road for some.
To start the rivalries, the Barbados Tridents and the Jamaica Kingsmen will face off tonight in Eliminator One, by virtue of finishing third and fourth, respectively, after this year’s league phase.
But things haven’t been all sweet for the home side, who turned around their season to march into the playoffs confidently. On the other hand, the visitors are 0-2 against the Tridents so far this season and will need a massive turnaround to book a place in Qualifier Two on Friday.
Barbados riding home leg momentum into playoffs
Last Saturday night, the Barbados Tridents got over the line in just the nick of time to pull off a two-wicket victory over the Jamaica Kingsmen in match 34 of the 2026 Republic Bank CPL.
Now with the playoffs on the horizon, the Tridents will meet the same opposition in Eliminator One today, at the Kensington Oval.
With an ensuing win against League leaders, Guyana Amazon warriors, Tridents’ Captain Chris Green is eagerly looking forward to the eliminator.
“Yeah, it’s been a great home leg,” Green told the Guyana Times Sport exclusively. “We obviously came back to Barbados after a couple of disappointing performances, knowing that we needed to win three games to qualify. We achieved that last night, so to win 4 out of 5 at home and really cement this as a home advantage.”
“So, we’re looking forward to challenge on Wednesday night in that eliminator against Jamaica,” he added.
Not taking the Kingsmen and Saturday’s result for granted, the Tridents will be bringing their ‘A’ game to the playoffs.
“Yeah, definitely we go into that game full of confidence, but Saturday night it was a thrilling game, down to the last ball, last over, entertaining. They’ve got some dangerous players, and a lot of their players have had a good tournament as well, so we know we’re going to have to be on our A-game ’cause they’re going to come and try knock us out here at home,” Green expressed.
With the likes of Jakeem Pollard, Shadrack Descarte and Johann Layne recently coming to the party, Green is quite impressed with the way his team has shown up when needed.
The skipper recollected, “I think the thing that’s impressed me in the five games here at home, our bowling performances have been incredibly consistent; it’s been different players outing their hands up, dominating with ball. And in the four games we’ve won as well, the guys who’ve chased down the runs for us, it’s been different players; it hasn’t been reliant on one or two players to get us over the line.”
“So, I think our whole squad comes into this finals series full of confidence.”
As Kensington Oval prepares to host its first CPL final, Green is not feeling too much pressure to get there but rather keeping the focus on Jamaica at the moment.
“I think pressure is a privilege,” Green said with a wry smile. “That was our goal to come here and achieve home finals for Barbados, being here at Kensington. We’ve got the home crowd advantage every time we play, and we want to play Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.”
The skipper continued, “You know, the focus is firmly on Jamaica; we can’t look too far ahead, but the motivating factor of going deeper in this tournament will get us through. So, I’m really looking forward to all the finals. I think the four teams here that have qualified have been the best teams in the tournament, and I think it’s going to be a really closely contested matchup.”
Confident Kingsmen hoping to flip the script on Tridents
On the other hand, when it comes to taking on the Barbados Tridents, it hasn’t been the best of seasons for the Jamaica Kingsmen.
First, the Tridents got the better of the hosts by five runs at Sabina Park in Kingston and then utilised their home-court advantage for a two-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.
Now, as the foes prepare to meet again, the Kingsmen will have a lot to think about.
At the moment though, the camp is doing well, as told by wicketkeeper/batsman Romaine Morrison.
“The mood in the camp is very good. We’ve been practising very well; we’ve been training very hard, and we have chemistry in the team. So, it’s just a next game today, a next opportunity, and we’re ready to go,” Morison told this publication at a training session on Tuesday.
With small margins separating the two teams so far this season, the Kingsmen are taking some solace from that fact as they prepare for their third encounter of the season.
The wicketkeeper shared, “Yeah, we’re very confident because we played them twice and the game was very close, so we’ll just go back to the drawing board. We’ve been planning well; we’ve been practising well. So, we just need to go out and execute our plans today.”
As Morrison looked at their overall game, he could only identify their fielding as a point of concern.
“We had conversations about the fielding,” the Jamaican player disclosed. “I think we gave away a few runs in the field, and I think that’s one area where we need to sharpen up on. So, I think once we get that aspect of the game intact, we’ll come out victorious today, definitely.”
In just their first year as a franchise, the Kingsmen have made their first playoffs, a fact that is boosting the confidence of the Jamaican side.
“I mean, it’s great,” he admitted.
Morrison continued, “You know, it’s a new franchise, and we’re very grateful for the opportunity, and as I said, the team is bonding very well, we’re playing very well, and the environment is very good and healthy. I think that is good for the team.”
In addition to the Kingsmen’s credit, they will see the return of opening batsman Saim Ayub, who went off to England last week for a Test between England and Pakistan. However, with the centurion back in the side and Andre Russell fit again, the Kingsmen will feel a little bit stronger.
The Kingsmen and Tridents will go into battle from 19:00h this evening.
Barbados riding home leg momentum into playoffs
Last Saturday night, the Barbados Tridents got over the line in just the nick of time to pull off a two-wicket victory over the Jamaica Kingsmen in match 34 of the 2026 Republic Bank CPL.
Now with the playoffs on the horizon, the Tridents will meet the same opposition in Eliminator One today, at the Kensington Oval.
With an ensuing win against League leaders, Guyana Amazon warriors, Tridents’ Captain Chris Green is eagerly looking forward to the eliminator.
“Yeah, it’s been a great home leg,” Green told the Guyana Times Sport exclusively. “We obviously came back to Barbados after a couple of disappointing performances, knowing that we needed to win three games to qualify. We achieved that last night, so to win 4 out of 5 at home and really cement this as a home advantage.”
“So, we’re looking forward to challenge on Wednesday night in that eliminator against Jamaica,” he added.
Not taking the Kingsmen and Saturday’s result for granted, the Tridents will be bringing their ‘A’ game to the playoffs.
“Yeah, definitely we go into that game full of confidence, but Saturday night it was a thrilling game, down to the last ball, last over, entertaining. They’ve got some dangerous players, and a lot of their players have had a good tournament as well, so we know we’re going to have to be on our A-game ’cause they’re going to come and try knock us out here at home,” Green expressed.
With the likes of Jakeem Pollard, Shadrack Descarte and Johann Layne recently coming to the party, Green is quite impressed with the way his team has shown up when needed.
The skipper recollected, “I think the thing that’s impressed me in the five games here at home, our bowling performances have been incredibly consistent; it’s been different players outing their hands up, dominating with ball. And in the four games we’ve won as well, the guys who’ve chased down the runs for us, it’s been different players; it hasn’t been reliant on one or two players to get us over the line.”
“So, I think our whole squad comes into this finals series full of confidence.”
As Kensington Oval prepares to host its first CPL final, Green is not feeling too much pressure to get there but rather keeping the focus on Jamaica at the moment.
“I think pressure is a privilege,” Green said with a wry smile. “That was our goal to come here and achieve home finals for Barbados, being here at Kensington. We’ve got the home crowd advantage every time we play, and we want to play Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.”
The skipper continued, “You know, the focus is firmly on Jamaica; we can’t look too far ahead, but the motivating factor of going deeper in this tournament will get us through. So, I’m really looking forward to all the finals. I think the four teams here that have qualified have been the best teams in the tournament, and I think it’s going to be a really closely contested matchup.”
Confident Kingsmen hoping to flip the script on Tridents
On the other hand, when it comes to taking on the Barbados Tridents, it hasn’t been the best of seasons for the Jamaica Kingsmen.
First, the Tridents got the better of the hosts by five runs at Sabina Park in Kingston and then utilised their home-court advantage for a two-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.
Now, as the foes prepare to meet again, the Kingsmen will have a lot to think about.
At the moment though, the camp is doing well, as told by wicketkeeper/batsman Romaine Morrison.
“The mood in the camp is very good. We’ve been practising very well; we’ve been training very hard, and we have chemistry in the team. So, it’s just a next game today, a next opportunity, and we’re ready to go,” Morison told this publication at a training session on Tuesday.
With small margins separating the two teams so far this season, the Kingsmen are taking some solace from that fact as they prepare for their third encounter of the season.
The wicketkeeper shared, “Yeah, we’re very confident because we played them twice and the game was very close, so we’ll just go back to the drawing board. We’ve been planning well; we’ve been practising well. So, we just need to go out and execute our plans today.”
As Morrison looked at their overall game, he could only identify their fielding as a point of concern.
“We had conversations about the fielding,” the Jamaican player disclosed. “I think we gave away a few runs in the field, and I think that’s one area where we need to sharpen up on. So, I think once we get that aspect of the game intact, we’ll come out victorious today, definitely.”
In just their first year as a franchise, the Kingsmen have made their first playoffs, a fact that is boosting the confidence of the Jamaican side.
“I mean, it’s great,” he admitted.
Morrison continued, “You know, it’s a new franchise, and we’re very grateful for the opportunity, and as I said, the team is bonding very well, we’re playing very well, and the environment is very good and healthy. I think that is good for the team.”
In addition to the Kingsmen’s credit, they will see the return of opening batsman Saim Ayub, who went off to England last week for a Test between England and Pakistan. However, with the centurion back in the side and Andre Russell fit again, the Kingsmen will feel a little bit stronger.
The Kingsmen and Tridents will go into battle from 19:00h this evening.
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