St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (SKNP) take on Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) in Match 11 of the 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts on Saturday (September 14). The Warriors have remained unbeaten in the tournament thus far, winning three games out of three. The Patriots, on the other hand, suffered their first loss of the tournament on Wednesday against Barbados Tridents, but are in a comfortable position, having won their other three matches.

SKNP managed to register the second-highest run-chase in T20 history when they chased down 242 against Jamaica Tallahwahs but failed to chase down 187 against Barbados Tridents. The form of their top three batsmen – Evin Lewis, Laurie Evans and Devon Thomas will be crucial once again.

The Patriots have won just two out of the nine encounters against the Warriors, with the last win coming August 2017.

Weather and ground details

Warner Park has already witnessed a record run-chase and we could once again see a high-scoring encounter. There is a chance of some rain and there could be some interruptions during the match. The average first innings score at the venue in CPL since 2018 has been 194. During this period, the teams chasing has won two, while the side batting first has won two.

Pace has dominated at The Warner Park since CPL 2018. They have picked up 42 wickets at an economy rate of 9.95, while the spinners have a much lesser economy rate of 8.24, but have managed to pick up just 22 scalps. Imran Tahir has re-signed for the Warriors, replacing Shadab Khan and will look to replicate the sort of form he showed in the previous edition. In the 2018 edition, Tahir was instrumental in Guyana reaching the final – a season where he picked up 16 wickets at 17.75.

Leg-spinners have picked up 15 wickets at this venue in the four games here since 2018. With Guyana and St Kitts having two quality leg-spinners – Tahir and Usama Mir, they could be the ones doing the most damage in this match.

Captain

Patriots’ opening batsman and wicketkeeper Devon Thomas has already hit two fifties from his four innings. Given that he is also the wicketkeeper, he could fetch you points for the catches he takes behind the wickets as well.

All-rounder Fabian Allen has three 30-plus scores from the four matches so far for the Patriots and could be a key member in the middle-order. It will be a bonus if he manages to pick up a wicket or two. However, he has managed just two wickets in the tournament so far

In the CPL, Imran Tahir has been phenomenal in all phases of play and it will not be surprising to see the captain open the bowling with the South African leg-spinner.

X-Factor 

Shimron Hetmyer showed glimpses of his T20 prowess with his unbeaten 47-ball 70 in the previous encounter against SKNP. With a strike-rate of more than 130 in T20s, Hetmyer is a very dangerous middle-order batsman, who on his day can make clearing the fences a child’s play. Coming in at No. 3, Hetmyer will be one of the key batsmen for his side. 

Nicholas Pooran returned to form with a brilliant unbeaten 61 off just 30 balls in the previous match against Barbados. He is excellent against pace and spin and once set, he could very well take the game away from the opposition. 

Predicted FanFight Team 

Evin Lewis, Laurie Evans, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Usama Mir, Imran Tahir, Sheldon Cottrell/Dominic Drakes, Alzarri Joseph