CPL 2020: Final - Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks- Preview, Live Streaming, Timings, Predicted XI, Stats, Pitch Report & more

After 32 matches spread over the duration of 24 days, the Caribbean Premier League has found the two teams that are still alive in the hunt of glory. The Trinbago Knight Riders will take on St Lucia Zouks in the summit clash of the CPL 2020, on 10th September, at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad.

This will be Riders’ fourth appearance in the final as compared to the first of the Zouks. TKR’s consistency has been marvelous over the years, but this year has been something else for them. The tournament has come to its closing encounter and they are yet to be defeated. The ended up as the table-toppers after winning all the 10 league games and defeated the Jamaica Tallawahs without breaking a sweat in the semi-final before entering the finals with a bang.

No team has ever achieved a feat of winning all the matches running from the first league face-off to the final in the history of the league, and the Riders, therefore, are standing today on the brink of creating history. Their attitude has been different than each of their adversaries and no wonder, they have set a different place for themselves. Despite missing the services of their star players like Sunil Narine and Colin Munro quite a few times, the team has never looked wanting as some or the other player has taken up the role with responsibility to fill the voids created.

Standing across them are St Lucia Zouks, who are completely new to the world of playing a final clash. In fact, this year’s editions happen to be the only second occasion when they have qualified for the playoffs. However, this year, be it defending a trivial 92 against Barbados Tridents, choking the once-cruising Jamaica Tallawahs to defeat during a chase of 145, or tumbling out the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the second-lowest total on the history of the league in the second semi-final, the team has put up some incredibly inspiring shows before making their way into the finals.

Given the kind of roll, the Riders have been on to, they will be the clear favorites in the final match, however, the Zouks have turned multiple unfavorable situations to their favor this year and they might well cause an upset today.

Pitch and conditions

The specific category of cricketers that have enjoyed most and have reaped endless results in this edition of the CPL are spinners. And that is how it is going to be on the last occasion as well. Expect a slightly higher scoring match as this is a day game, and it is these games that have seen some runs at least. There are mild chances of rain but not enough to curtail the length of the match,

Playing combinations

Trinbago Knight Riders

Colin Munro missed the semi-final clash and it appears unlikely that he will be in action today. In his absence, Tion Webster should be seen at No. 3 whereas the opening slot is locked with Sunil Narine and Lendl Simmons. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert alongside the two destructive Caribbean blokes – Darren Bravo and skipper Kieron Pollard – will form the middle-order.

Ali Khan and Dwayne Bravo will take care of the pace attack, whereas The Man-of-the-Match awardee for his 3 for 14 in the semi-final, Akeal Hosein, will be present alongside Fawad Ahmed, Khary Pierre, and Sunil Narine in the slot of spinners of the team.

Predicted XI- Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Tion Webster, Tim Seifert (WK), Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard (C), Dwayne Bravo, Ali Khan, Khary Pierre, Fawad Ahmed, Akeal Hosein.

Bench- Amir Jangoo, Pravin Tambe, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.

St Lucia Zouks

Rahkeem Cornwall and Mark Deyal will be seen performing their opening duties followed by Andre Fletcher at No. 3. The Zouks have highlighted their brilliance with the likes of Roston Chase, Mohammad Nabi, and Najibullah Zadran providing them a robust middle-order and they will be the ones in that role again today.

With the likes of Chase, Nabi, Deyal, Javelle Glen, and Zaheer Khan, their spin unit looks as brilliant as any in the tournament. Scott Kuggeleijn and Kesrick Williams have shone with the ball and have been in the wickets throughout the tournament. All of their bowlers contributed to Tallawahs’ collapse in the second semi-final and therefore, the same eleven is expected.

Predicted XI- Rahkeem Cornwall, Mark Deyal, Andre Fletcher (WK), Roston Chase, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Daren Sammy (C), Javelle Glen, Kesrick Williams, Zahir Khan, Scott Kuggeleijn.

Bench- Saad Bin Zafar, Kavem Hodge, Chemar Holder, Kimani Melius, Leniko Boucher, Obed McCoy.

Head to head

Matches Played- 16 | Trinbago Knight Riders Won-12 | St Lucia Zouks Won- 2 | NR- 2

Broadcast Details

Match Timings- 7:30 PM (IST), 10:00 AM (Local).

TV– Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2 HD, and Star Sports 1 HD Hindi.

Live Streaming– The match can be streamed online on Fancode.