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Jamaica Tallawahs lifted the trophy in 2022 [Twitter]
To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, West Indies' global T20 tournament, the Caribbean Premier League will commence on Thursday with a high-voltage face-off between St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs. The Daren Sammy stadium in St Lucia will host the fascinating contest.
Team Previews
St Lucia Kings
Faf du Plessis in action [Twitter]
St Lucia Kings had a topsy-turvy run in the previous edition of the tournament. They finished third in the points table with four wins in ten matches before suffering a horrendous defeat against the eventual champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the eliminator. However, they have a formidable squad this time and would love to kick-start their campaign with a win.
The Kings' batting unit looks rock-solid, studded with the likes of Faf du Plessis, Johnson Charles and the Zimbabwean superstar Sean Williams. Furthermore, they have two top-tier all-rounders in Roston Chase and Sikandar Raza, who can rattle the opposition with both bat and ball on a given day.
However, their bowling department lacks quality and could be a headache for them, as Alzarri Joseph seems to be the solitary genuine wicket-taker in their lineup.
Jamaica Tallawahs
Talking about Jamaica Tallawahs, the Rovman Powell-led outfit was clinical across departments last season, as they clinched the title by swatting aside Barbados Royals in the all-important final.
Their squad looks absolutely formidable on paper, comprising T20 superstars throughout the lineup. While Brandon King and Alex Hales will open the batting, the likes of Shamarh Brooks, Imad Wasim, Ben Cutting and Raymon Reifer will bat in the middle-order alongside swashbuckling finisher Fabian Allen.
Their seam-bowling department also looks sorted, having Mohammad Amir and Naveen-ul-Haq, with Hayden Walsh Jr set to lead the spin attack.
SLK vs JAM: Match Details & Live Streaming
Date & Time: August 17, 04.30 AM IST
Venue: Daren Sammy national cricket Stadium, St Lucia
Live streaming: FanCode App & Website
SLK vs JAM: St Lucia Pitch Report
The surface in St Lucia will be on the drier side, having decent assistance for batters and spinners. While the batters will enjoy its even pace and bounce, there will be a hint of grip on offer for the spinners. As its an evening game, the toss-winner will likely opt to bowl first.
SLK vs JAM: Probable Playing 11
St Lucia Kings: Johnson Charles (WK), Faf du Plessis (C), Leonardo Julien, Roston Chase, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Roshon Primus, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Jeavor Royal, Chris Sole
Jamaica Tallawahs: Brandon King (C), Alex Hales, Amir Jangoo (WK), Raymon Reifer, Ben Cutting, Fabian Allen, Imad Wasim, Chris Green, Mohammad Amir, Hayden Walsh Jr, Naveen-ul-Haq
SLK vs JAM: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
| Wicket-Keeper | Johnson Charles |
| Batters | Brandon King, Faf du Plessis, Sean Williams |
| All-Rounders | Fabian Allen, Imad Wasim, Roston Chase, Sikandar Raza |
| Bowlers | Mohammad Amir, Naveen-ul-Haq, Alzarri Joseph |
| Captain | Roston Chase |
| Vice Captain | Imad Wasim |
SLK vs JAM: Winner Prediction
Considering the lineups of both teams, we reckon Jamaica Tallawahs will emerge victorious in this match.
 "Debashis Sarangi")
