CPL 2021, Match 2, Barbados Royals vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match?

Preview

Barbados Royals and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are set to lock horns in Match No.2 of the 2021 CPL on Thursday, August 26. The Royals are the two-time champion but failed to qualify for the playoffs last time.

They have recruited quite a few new players and look like a strong team for the tournament. The Patriots, on the other hand, would want to park the agony of last season aside and take the field with a new zeal.

The two trades- Dwayne Bravo and Sherfane Rutherford- have strengthened both their batting and bowling. Chris Gayle’s inclusion is also expected to bolster their batting lineup.

Match Details

Match – Barbados Royals vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots – 2nd match

Venue – Warner Park, St Kitts

Time – 04:30 AM IST- August 27, 11:00 PM GMT- August 26

Where to watch live – Star Sports, Fancode

Pitch Report

The venue in St Kitts and Nevis produced some high-scoring games in the CPL 2019. Once, the home team chased down 242 against Jamaica Tallawahs. Another high-scoring match seems to be in store for the second game.

Avg first innings score: 182 (5 matches in the CPL 2020 at Warner Park)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 3, Lost – 1, N/R – 0, Tied- 1

Playing combinations

Barbados Royals

Predicted XI

Johnson Charles, Glenn Phillips (WK), Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Azam Khan, Thisara Perera, Jason Holder (C), Raymon Reifer/Oshane Thomas, Ashley Nurse, Hayden Walsh Jr, Mohammad Amir

Bench– Justin Greaves, Smit Patel, Raymon Reifer/Oshane Thomas, Nyeem Young, Jake Lintott, Joshua Bishop

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Predicted XI

Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Joshua da Silva/Devon Thomas (WK), Ravi Bopara, Asif Ali, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Rayad Emrit (C), Fawad Ahmed, Sheldon Cottrell

Bench– Mikyle Louis, Colin Archibald, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Dominic Drakes, Paul van Meekeren

Head-to-head

Overall

Matches- 12, Barbados Royals – 4, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots – 8

At Warner Park

Matches- 5, Barbados Royals – 2, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots – 3

Probable best batter of the match

Evin Lewis— St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Evin Lewis has been a fulcrum of the Patriots’ batting unit for quite some years now. In 69 CPL matches, the left-hander has notched 1787 runs at an average of 27.07 and a strike rate of 139.60. The southpaw has also played some handy knocks for the West Indies in recent times and should be high on confidence.

Probable best bowler of the match

Hayden Walsh Jr — Barbados Royals

Hayden Walsh Jr bagged the limelight in 2019 when his stupendous spell of bowling guided the Royals, then Tridents, to their second CPL title. Although in 2020 he wasn’t as effective, Walsh Jr broke into the West Indies national team. The leg-spinner has grown in stature since then and has looked mightily effective.

Today’s match prediction: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to win the match.

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.