St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Jamaica Tallawahs will come face to face in the seventh game of the 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at the Warner Park, St Kitts on Tuesday (September 10). Both teams are yet to win a game this season. While Patriots lost to Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors, Tallawahs too suffered a beating at the hands of Knight Riders.

Ground Details and Team Combination

Warner Park will be hosting its first game of the season and the venue is known to be a paradise for big-hitters. In 2018, batters operated at strike rate of 139.91 in four encounters - only behind Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium (143.13). However, the St Kitts crowd got to witness lots of fours and sixes in the last edition as 19.62 percent (highest across all eight stadiums) of the overall runs came via boundaries. 

In the last edition, spinners had way better outings than pacers. They leaked runs at a decent economy of 7.47, compared to fast bowlers’ 9.58. The likes of Mohammad Hafeez, Fabian Allen and Steven Jacobs might come into play, but they won’t have it easy against the power-hitters like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Evin Lewis. 

Patriots have failed to post big scores so far in the competition and the likes of Hafeez and Lewis will have to contribute more if they want to challenge Tallawahs’strong batting unit. Both sides have some fiery pacers but it’s the spinners who will be expected to dictate terms. 

Captaincy Choices 

Andre Russell: The Jamaican has to be at the top of your list considering the kind of impact he can create. The 31-year-old smoked 44 off just 24 deliveries against Knight Riders after walking in at No. 6. Russell will most likely bat slightly up the order and that will give him more overs to stamp his authority at the venue where he surely won’t hesitate to open his shoulders. He scalped one wicket in the last match and is also a solid fielder, making him a complete package. 

Chris Gayle: The left-hander looked threatening during his brief stay in the middle in Tallawahs’s first encounter. Gayle slammed three sixes in his 20-ball 28 before he was undone by Knight Riders’ Ali Khan. With 492 runs at an average of 49.20, Gayle has a solid record at this venue. If he manages to get his eye in, expect some fireworks from the big man. 

Mohammad Hafeez: The experienced campaigner from Pakistan is yet to set the stage on fire but the Warner Park is exactly the type of venue where he can prove his worth. Hafeez has only managed scores of 16 and 14 and has only bowled three overs so far this season. However, one can expect him to come good considering the nature of the pitch.

X-Factor 

Fabian Allen: The 24-year-old all-rounder has easily been Patriots’ best player so far in this edition. With knocks of 30 and 33 down the order, he has contributed in both games but has only bowled two overs so far this season. The left-arm spinner will come in handy at Warner Park and will try to contribute in all three facets of the game. Not to forget, Allen is also a livewire on the field. 

Weather 

It’s going to be partly cloudy in Basseterre with minimal chance of rain, so expect a full match. 

Predicted FanFight Team 

Chris Gayle, Mohammad Hafeez, Kjorn Ottley, Devon Thomas (wk), George Worker, Jason Mohammed, Andre Russell, Fabian Allen, Steven Jacobs, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas.