We’re down to the final four and it’s anyone’s guess who will lift the Caribbean Premier League trophy this year? We’re at the business end, and on Tuesday night St Lucia Kings will face last year’s winners Jamaica Tallawahs in the Eliminator. This match will bowl off at 7pm (6pm Jamaica) at the Guyana National Stadium.
On Wednesday night, home side Guyana Amazon Warriors will face off against Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 1. This promises to be a titanic clash with the winners booking a straight spot to the grand final on Sunday 24 September.
The tournament reached fever pitch on Sunday night when Warriors ended the preliminaries with a sensational win over Barbados Royals. This was thanks to a majestic century by Shai Hope, who is the leading runscorer with 407 runs followed by team-mate Saim Ayub (357) and Andre Fletcher of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who ended with 278 runs.
This season has so far seen five centuries – the most in a single tournament. Hope made 104 on Sunday night, while earlier in the day Alex Hales made 119 not out for Jamaica Tallawahs against the St Lucia Kings. The other tons have been: Rakheem Cornwall 102 not out – Barbados Royals vs Patriots; Nicholas Pooran 102 not out for Trinbago Knight Riders vs Royals; and Martin Guptill 101 not out for Trinbago Knight Riders vs Royals.
The leading bowler in the prelims was Jason Holder of Barbados Royals who took 16 wickets in his nine matches. He was closely followed by Mohammed Amir of Jamaica Tallawahs who took 15 wickets in his eight matches. The next highest are both from the Tallawahs – left arm spinner Imad Wasim and off-spinner Chris Green – with 13 wickets each.
UPCOMING MATCHES
at Guyana National Stadium 7pm (6pm Jamaica)
19 September: Eliminator – Jamaica Tallawahs vs St. Lucia Kings
20 September: Qualifier 1 – Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders
22 September: Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier 1
24 September: FINAL Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2
22 September: Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier 1
24 September: FINAL Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2
