CPL 2020: Match 1, Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Preview – Clash of the titans to take centrestage in season opener

The Trinbago Knight Riders have won the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) three times. The Guyana Amazon Warriors, on the other hand, have won none. However, it needs to be noted that out of the seven editions of the T20 league, the Warriors ended as the runners up as many as five times.

Back in 2019, Jason Holder’s Barbados Tridents beat them in the final after they won 11 matches in a row. This time around, the Warriors will be desperate to get their hands on the trophy. The Knight Riders will have two of their key players- Dwayne Bravo and Fawad Ahmed- back with them.

Bravo missed the last CPL due to injury even as Fawad moved to the St Lucia Zouks for a solitary season. However, despite Bravo’s return, TKR has retained Kieron Pollard as their captain for the upcoming season. The Warriors won’t be having the services of Shoaib Malik, who will be busy in national commitments.

Both the teams have been involved in some jaw-dropping encounters over the years with the Knight Riders leading the head-to-head by 10-9. In 2019, it was the Warriors, who brushed aside TKR both times and the latter will be looking to make amends at the Brian Lara Stadium.

Playing Combinations

Guyana Amazon Warriors

The Warriors have a power-packed batting unit. Brandon King was the top run-scorer last season and the onus will be on him, along with Hemraj, to take the team off to flying starts. The experienced Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran add the firepower in the middle order.

Sherfane Rutherford can also smash the leather a fair distance. It will be interesting to see how Ross Taylor performs on his CPL comeback. In bowling, Chris Green and Imran Tahir will hold the key without a doubt. Romario Shepherd was decent last time and he will be keen to step up again.

Predicted XI

Brandon King, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ross Taylor, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, Chris Green (C), Romario Shepherd, Naveen-ul-Haq, Imran Tahir

Trinbago Knight Riders

Lendl Simmons was TKR’s highest run-scorer last season. The Knights will be pinning hopes on him and Sunil Narine to take advantage of the field restrictions. Colin Munro has shown his class for TKR in the last few seasons. His New Zealand partner Tim Seifert will also want to prove a point.

The onus will also be on the Bravo brothers and Kieron Pollard as well. In bowling, Ali Khan and Khary Pierre were effective last season and the duo will be looking for something similar even this time around. The inclusion of the Pakistan-born Fawad will also strengthen their bowling unit.

Predicted XI

Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard (C), Dwayne Bravo, Fawad Ahmed, Khary Pierre, Ali Khan, Anderson Phillip

Head to Head

Played- 19, Guyana Amazon Warriors won- 9, Trinbago Knight Riders won- 10, No-Result- 0

Stat Attack

3- Wickets Dwayne Bravo needs to become the first bowler with 100 wickets in the CPL.

52– Runs Darren Bravo needs to complete 1,000 runs in the CPL.

Broadcast Details

Match timings – 10:00 AM local time, 07:30 PM IST

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 at Hotstar.