CPL 2019: Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks, Match 5, Port of Spain: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Two games into CPL 2019, defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders area already showing their title credentials with two impressive wins of contrasting nature. With their next opponent, St Lucia Zouks, coming into the tournament on the back of a fair deal of distraction, it’s not too far off the mark to suggest it’s the champions’ game to lose.

In their opener, Trinbago were far from their best, especially with regard to their batting. Their top three didn’t fire, and it needed some middle-order manoeuvring from Denesh Ramdin, Kieron Pollard and Jimmy Neesham to help them post the 152/7 they did. Their bowlers – led by Neesham – were competent enough to then finish the job, but it was in the second game, an altogether more robust one against fellow title-favourites Jamaica Tallawahs that their batters stood up to be counted.

Tion Webster scored a 49-ball 66, Sunil Narine did his bit with a 22-ball 44, and the 192-run target they helped proved more than enough for their bowlers to defend – Neesham once again shined with two wickets – against a line-up comprising some of the biggest hitters of a white ball in Chris Gayle, Rovman Powell and Andre Russell.

Now, that’s bad news for the Zouks. In their one match so far, against Guyana, their bowlers impressed, with Obed McCoy returning 4/41, but there simply wasn’t enough fire power in the batting. They fell 13 short of a 156-run target, and you can be sure the Trinbago management would have taken note of the fact that their batting lacks zing.

Unless the Zouks massively improve on their performance, this is the defending champions game.

Head to head

In the 12 clashes against St Lucia Stars – the Zouks previous avatar – Trinbago’s record is almost sinfully good. They have won 9 of those matches – the only 2 times St Lucia won were once each in 2015 and 2016.

Key players

Jimmy Neesham (Trinbago Knight Riders): The New Zealand all-rounder has been stellar form this tournament. He was key in the defending champions’ opening victory, returning 3 wickets and scoring 33. He was again key in their second outing, seeing off the dangerous Andre Russell, who was well set, and Shamar Springer. If Zouks stand a chance, they have to see off this man.

Obed McCoy (St Lucia Zouks): If their second match was a yardstick, Trinbago have a terrifying batting line-up, and early wickets are key. That puts the onus on McCoy, who impressed with 4 wickets in the Zouks’ only clash so far. More of the same is desperately needed.

Likely XIs

Trinbago Knight Riders: Lendl Simmons, Tion Webster, Sunil Narine, Jimmy Neesham, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Javon Scantlebury-Searles, Seekkuge Prasanna, Khary Pierre, Mohammad Hasnain, Ali Khan

St Lucia Zouks: Andre Fletcher (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Andre McCarthy, Najibullah Zadran, Chris Barnwell, Thisara Perera, Darren Sammy (c), Kesrick Williams, Obed McCoy, Krishmar Santokie, Fawad Ahmed

Prediction

Trinbago to coast to victory.