FANTASY
Follow UsWhile it is definitely a clash of the titans, the St Lucia Kings would need to elevate their performance ten times from their game on Friday, to stand a chance. On the other hand, Trinbago Knight Riders would be relieved to be back on the winning track, after losing the first encounter. The Knight Riders definitely have the upper hand over the Kings, having won 13 of their last 15 clashes.
But if this edition of the tournament has taught us one thing, that is no one walks into the contest on the upper hand, it is often decided by the momentum at the venue. So, can the Kings break the losing streak and pull up a surprise win?
Head-to-Head Record
Total: 15 | Kings: 2 | Knight Riders: 13
Last five matches
Kings: 0 | Knight Riders: 5
Ground Details and Team combination
Four games into this year’s CPL, the Warner Park has provided all kinds of surfaces – good ones, the spin ones and definitely, the high-scoring one that we witnessed in the third game of the series. Now all of that combined, the 1st innings Average score at the Warner Park is 181, which suggests that good wickets might be on offer, on Sunday.
With 66.91% of the wickets being taken by the pacers at the venue, it would be a wise decision to stick with the pacers in the team or just banking on the batsmen to get the gun total, something that has happened in the recent past.
Suggested Team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you to create the ideal fantasy XI.
Captaincy Suggestion
Oh, if you have watched the CPL this season, one name definitely should be on the top of the list for being your captain for this game – Isuru Udana. The left-arm pacer has already picked up six wickets this season, at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.50, striking every eight delivery. Last game, with his 5/21, with 147 points and he averages 67.2 points in the last five clashes.
Our Criclytics Players Projector predicts that Udana will pick 2-3 wickets, fetch 72.5 projected points, which makes him a prime candidate for leading your fantasy side.
X-Factors
Last season, Denesh Ramdin had one his poor seasons in the Caribbean Premier League, with just 170 runs in the season. However, this season, he has already turned the handles around with 57 runs in the first two games, averaging 57. Against the Kings, the right-hander also averages 46.83, which in all suggests that he will one of the X-factor players in this high-octane clash.
Our Criclytics Players Projector predicts Ramdin could score 21-31 runs in this match.
Chasing 255, the St Lucia Kings were in position to win the game, at 4/38 but Tim David ensured that their net run-rate did not take a brutal hit, with a knock of utmost composure. The right-hander turned the heat, with his 28-ball 56, at a strike rate of 200, showing his appetite for the long hit. While he didn’t bowl on Friday, he has picked up five wickets in his career, which might be utilised if the conditions favour it.
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points –
Player Match-Ups:
While Sunil Narine has started this season on a low with just 20 runs, his impact for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the last season was remarkable, with 144 runs, averaging 28.8 at a strike rate of 148.4 with 73.6% of his runs being in boundaries. But against the St. Lucia Kings, there is an evident weakness for the southpaw, who has been dismissed thrice by Kesrick Williams, with the left-hander just scoring one run. A batting strike rate of 16.67, Williams definitely has an edge over Narine.
Probable XIs:
St. Lucia Kings: Faf du Plessis(C), Andre Fletcher (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Mark Deyal, Roston Chase, Tim David, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Kesrick Williams
Trinbago Knight Riders: Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Darren Bravo, Tim Seifert, Kieron Pollard (c), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Isuru Udana, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Yasir Shah