Shimron Hetmyer in action in CPL 2024 (X)
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 is heating up as the unbeaten Saint Lucia Kings prepare to take on the equally in-form Guyana Amazon Warriors in what promises to be a nail-biting encounter. The two powerhouses will lock horns on Sunday, September 8, at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, with the action set to begin at 4:30 AM IST.
Saint Lucia Kings have been riding high in the tournament, sitting comfortably at the top of the CPL 2024 points table after two back-to-back victories. Their most recent win saw them ease past Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, chasing down a target of 143 runs with plenty of overs left in the tank.
Johnson Charles was the star of the show, scoring an unbeaten 47 and anchoring the chase, while Noor Ahmad's impressive 3/18 earned him the Player of the Match award. Under the leadership of Faf du Plessis, the Kings will aim to extend their winning streak to three games, proving that they're not a team to be trifled with.
On the other hand, Guyana Amazon Warriors are breathing down the Kings' necks, sitting in third place with two wins from two matches. Their previous game was nothing short of a spectacle, as they piled on a colossal 266 runs, with Shimron Hetmyer blazing through with a rapid 91 off 39 balls, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashing 69 from 37 deliveries.
The Warriors’ bowling attack, led by captain Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie, both claiming three wickets apiece, left their opponents in shambles. Now, they'll be eyeing their third consecutive win, looking to climb to the summit of the points table.
How will the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium pitch behave?
The Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium is known for being a batter's paradise, with the ball coming on to the bat nicely. Historically, the average first-innings score here is 168 in 24 T20 internationals, and spinners have often played a key role as the game progresses. However, pacers will have to be clever with their variations in pace. With 13 wins for teams batting first and 11 for chasing teams, the toss will play a crucial role. Expect the captain winning the toss to opt for batting first.
SLK vs GAW: Predicted Toss Result
As this is the first game of CPL 2024 at this venue, the pitch is likely to be fresh and primed for batting. A high-scoring affair seems to be on the cards, with a score above 180 potentially setting the winning mark. The toss could be the deciding factor in this high-stakes match, and the captain who calls it right will likely want to make the most of the favourable conditions by batting first and setting a huge target.
SLK vs GAW: Players To Watch Out For
Saint Lucia Kings
Batters: Faf du Plessis, Tim Seifert
All-rounders: David Wiese
Bowlers: Noor Ahmad, Alzarri Joseph
Guyana Amazon Warriors
Batters: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shimron Hetmyer
All-rounders: Dwaine Pretorious
Bowlers: Imran Tahir, Gudakesh Motie
SLK vs GAW: Match Prediction
SLK vs GAW: Predicted Score
Predicted first innings score: 175-200
Predicted second innings score: 170-195
Predicted Result: The team batting first will have an advantage in this match.