AFTER securing a crucial 30-run victory over Barbados Royals in their penultimate Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 preliminary round match on September 27, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) must deliver a batting masterclass against Guyana Amazon Warriors on September 29, if they are to confirm a top-two spot heading into the playoffs.
Despite TKR (12 pts) concluding their five-match home leg at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba in fine style, they’re currently third on the standings, with the Warriors and St Lucia Kings respectively ahead, both on 14 pts each.
Warriors climbed past Kings on September 28 after both teams faced each other, with the former emerging victorious by 35 runs. The Guyana franchise now lead the standings with a superior net run rate of +1.313 while Kings trail on +0.673.
TKR sit in third (+0.090) while Barbados Royals (+0.084) enter the final phase cemented in fourth.
This means if TKR put on a brazen batting display against Warriors on September 29, they can potentially increase their net run rate and move past Kings to seal second place heading into the playoffs.
Here, the top two teams (qualifier one) play each other on October 2 for an automatic spot in the final. Additionally, the third-ranked team meets Barbados in the eliminator on October 1.
The qualifier one loser then plays the eliminator winner to decide who completes the two finalists for the 2024 CPL.
[caption id="attachment_1111366" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TKR wicketkeeper/batsman Nicholas Pooran appeals for the dismissal of Barbados Royals’ Alick Athanaze during the CPL T20 match, on September 27, 2024 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
Australian and TKR batsman Tim David said the squad is well aware of what’s at stake in their final prelim match against Warriors at home. And despite their competitive rivalry, David believes TKR have the artillery to humble the Warriors in their own backyard.
“We’ve known for a little while that we’re going to be in the final four but we’re still gunning for a top two spot because you get an advantage of trying to get straight through to the final. We had brilliant support here in Trinidad, and now we’re going to Guyana and we’re going to play the finals there.
“The crowd has been brilliant here (Trinidad). We might have something a bit different in Guyana. I’ve heard it’s very one-sided support. It’s been a great week so far but now we’re looking forward to getting over there and challenging for the trophy,” David said.
In their clash against Royals, TKR showed mettle with the bat and ball and handed the Bajan franchise their fourth consecutive loss.
Sent into bat, TKR lost opener Jason Roy after just three balls, bowled brilliantly by Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
Nicholas Pooran came to the middle and and blasted a quick-fire 27 (one six and four fours) from 15 balls before he was caught behind by Quintin de Kock. Pooran’s brisk knock saw him break Pakistan’s Mohammed Rizwan’s world re
