FANTASY
Follow UsIt is Match – 24 of this season’s CPL and it will be the St Lucia Zouks and Guyana Amazon Warriors locking horns. The Zouks are in a safe zone with 10 points, they just need one more win to ensure a play-off spot. On the other hand, the Warriors will need to assume every match as a must-win encounter.
In the reverse leg of the tournament, the Zouks had defeated the Warriors by 10 runs defending 145. On an average, 148 runs have been scored in the first innings, in the last 5 encounters between them. The Zouks' record against the Warriors isn’t great, but they won in the reverse leg.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall: Matches – 14 | SLZ – 5 Wins | GAW – 9 Wins
At venue: Matches – 1 | SLZ – 1 Win | GAW – 0 Wins
Last 5 Matches: SLZ – 2 Wins | GAW – 3 Wins
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from cricket.com Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms we come up with six different team that could fetch crucial points.
GROUND DETAILS
This season of CPL has belonged to the bowlers, especially the spinners. The spinners have bagged 121 wickets, which is nearly 53% at a bowling average of 18.7 and a balls/dismissal ratio of 18.2.
Considerably, the pitch at Tarouba was better for the batsmen as compared to Port of Spain this season. On an average 147 runs has been scored this season in Tarouba in the 1st innings.
Bowlers have enjoyed early success in Tarouba since 2019 in CPL. The balls/dismissal ratio of 16.9 is the second-best among all venues in this timeframe. The bowling average at the venue as well is on the lower side, which suggests the bowlers have picked up wickets for lesser runs.
*All data updated till Match – 20 (SKNP vs GAW) 30th August
TEAM COMBINATION
In comparison with Port of Spain, where the spinners dominated, at the Brian Lara Stadium the pacers have picked up wickets a tad more than the spinners this season. However, in terms of average and balls/dismissal, spinners are still better than pacers.
*All data updated till Match – 20 (SKNP vs GAW) 30th August
With bowlers dominating this season in both venues, it would be better to pack the team with bowlers. Throughout this tournament, it has been the scene with all the teams, bowlers have outperformed the batsmen. It is nothing new with these two teams as well.
The Zouks, have been decent in both departments. In the last match when the batsmen let them down, the bowlers lifted them to a victory. Even when it comes to bowling, the pacers and spinners have almost contributed equally. The pacers have bagged 52.1% of wickets and the spinners 43.8%. Three bowlers from Zouks have 10 or more wickets in this season. Two allrounders with 100+ runs and 5+ wickets this season. They have ticked all the boxes this season with some power-performers. Roston Chase, Mohammad Nabi, Scott Kuggeleijn and Kesrick Williams are a certainty in the fantasy team.
As for the Amazon Warriors, the like of Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran are indeed hot picks. Few good performances form Keemo Paul and skipper Chris Green also is a consideration.
There could be a few interesting match-ups too.
MOHAMMAD NABI vs IMRAN TAHIR
The Afghan middle order allrounder has faced Tahir in 4 innings and it has been a struggle for him. Nabi has got out to him thrice in those 4 innings at an average of 8.7
MOHAMMAD NABI vs KEEMO PAUL
Nabi’s struggle against Keemo has been similar to of his struggle to Tahir. Against Keemo as well, in the 4 innings he has been devoured by him thrice at an average of 5.7 and a strike rate of 113.
NICHOLAS POORAN vs KESRICK WILLIAMS
The battle has been in equal terms, Williams has had his success and so has Pooran. In a tussle of 4 innings, 2 times Williams has got the better of Pooran but Pooran has scored at a healthy strike rate of 146.2.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
ROSTON CHASE: Chase is the sixth-joint highest run-scorer in CPL 2020 so far. To go with it he has 6 wickets at a bowling average of 13.2, which is the fourth-best among bowlers with 5 or more wickets. Out of the 6 wickets Chase has this season, 4 have come in the middle overs (overs 7-15). Those 4 wickets have come every 13.5 balls, which is the second-best among bowlers who have bowled more than 5 innings in overs 7-15.
*All data updated till Match – 20 (SKNP vs GAW) 30th August
Chase’s skill with the ball were seen when he defended 9 runs of the last over to guide Zouks to a victory against the Tridents. His dual characteristics are sure to fetch points and with the form he is in, he surely can be a captain.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts he would score 12-29 runs and pick 0-1 wicket in Match 24 against Guyana.
X-FACTORS
MOHAMMAD NABI: Nabi has been a star with the ball for Zouks this year with 10 wickets at an economy of 4.8 and balls/dismissal ratio of 14.4. What has stood out for him this year are his skills in the powerplay. Out of the 10 wickets, 7 have come during overs 1-6, the joint-most alongside Holder in this phase. Nabi’s balls/dismissal ratio is better than Holder in this phase. His economy of just 4.7 in the powerplay is truly remarkable.
In addition, Nabi has also been more than useful with the bat having scored more than 100 runs in the season. He has scored those runs at a healthy strike rate as well. The Afghan has risen with both bat and ball so far and is likely to help with a lot of points if he gets going.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts he would pick 0-1 wicket and score 10-27 runs in Match 24 against Guyana
IMRAN TAHIR: The second-joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament has been the leader of Guyana's bowling attack. He has 11 wickets at an average of 15.9 and a balls/dismissal ratio of 15.3. Bowling in the powerplay is a new responsibility shouldered on Tahir this season. The experienced leggie has excelled in that as well
*All data updated till Match – 20 (SKNP vs GAW) 30th August
The balls/wicket ratio of 8.0 is the best among bowlers who have bowled 5 or more overs in the first 6 overs this season. The quality cricket he produces makes him captaincy material in the fantasy team.
NICHOLAS POORAN: The whole tournament has been up and down for Pooran. He is there among the top run-scorers this season, but it's because of two big innings. However, on the back of a century, Pooran is certainly an X-factor who has the ability to change the game in a flash. His strike rate of 152.6 this season proves his worth. His strike rate is also the second-best among batsmen who have scored over 100 runs this season.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts he would score 9-26 runs in Match 24 against the Zouks.
