CPL 2024 Match 14, SLK vs SKNP Match Prediction: Who Will Win Today's Match?

St Lucia Kings are coming on the back of a defeat (X)St Lucia Kings are coming on the back of a defeat (X)

Saint Lucia Kings will lock horns with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Match 14 of the Caribbean Premier League 2024 on Friday, September 13, at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.

The Kings find themselves in fourth place on the points table, having won two and lost two of their four matches. However, they are licking their wounds after a close four-wicket defeat at the hands of Trinbago Knight Riders in their previous fixture.

Faf du Plessis (34 off 26) and Johnson Charles (29 off 14) provided a flying start, while Roston Chase held the fort with a solid unbeaten 56 off 40 balls, helping the Kings post a respectable total of 187.

Unfortunately, their bowlers couldn’t rise to the occasion, as Kieron Pollard and Shaqkere Parris both hammered fifties to seal the win for the Knight Riders.

Although Noor Ahmad and Matthew Forde each claimed two wickets, the expensive spells of the rest of the bowlers were the chink in the armour, which ultimately cost them the game. The Kings will now look to regroup and turn their fortunes around.

On the other hand, it’s been a season to forget for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who are languishing at the bottom of the table. With just one win in six games, they are staring down the barrel of playoff elimination. After a promising start, they’ve now lost five matches on the trot.

In their most recent outing, they fell short by two wickets against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. Mikyle Louis was the shining light in an otherwise gloomy batting display, smashing 63 off 36 balls to push the Patriots to a total of 153.

Wanindu Hasaranga's brilliant 4 for 16 and Anrich Nortje's 3/35 nearly turned the game in their favour, but it wasn’t enough as they narrowly lost by two wickets.

The Patriots will need their top-order trio—Evin Lewis, captain Andre Fletcher, and Kyle Mayers—to come good if they are to break this losing streak.

How Will the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium Pitch Behave?

The surface at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet has proven to be batting-friendly, with runs coming thick and fast in recent games. The ball comes onto the bat nicely, allowing for clean stroke play, and the outfield is quick, rewarding well-timed shots. With such conditions, it’s no surprise that totals have been on the higher side, and a score of 180 or more could very well be a match-winning total.

However, despite the surface’s generosity to the batters, spinners can still play a crucial role. They might find some grip and turn, especially as the game progresses. The pacers, on the other hand, will need to rely heavily on their variations. Seam movement might be hard to come by, so cutters, slower deliveries, and well-disguised yorkers will be their key weapons in restricting the flow of runs.

SLK vs SKNP: Predicted Toss Result

What makes this pitch interesting is its consistency. Unlike some venues where the pitch deteriorates as the match wears on, the track at Gros Islet has shown little sign of slowing down in the second half of games. This means the team batting second can still expect favourable conditions, making it an ideal chasing surface. 

In fact, teams that have chased in CPL 2024 so far at this venue have enjoyed success, which makes the toss a crucial factor in deciding the outcome. Given the trend, it’s highly likely that the captain who wins the toss will opt to field first, putting the opposition under pressure with a target to chase.

SLK vs SKNP: Players To Watch Out For

Saint Lucia Kings

Batters: Faf du Plessis, Johnson Charles
All-rounders: Roston Chase
Bowlers: Noor Ahmad, Matthew Forde

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Batters: Andre Fletcher, Mikyle Louis
All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga, Kyle Mayers
Bowlers: Anrich Nortje

SLK vs SKNP: Match Prediction

SLK vs SKNP: Predicted Score

Predicted first innings score: 170-195
Predicted second innings score: 165-190

Predicted Result: The team bowling first will have an edge in this match.