Best XI of the CPL season 5

The Caribbean Premier League, which has been hailed for some of the most exciting and breathtaking cricketing action in T20 history, finally ended on a high with a captivating finale between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

All-rounder Kevon Cooper emerged as an unlikely hero for the Knight Riders smashing a 14-ball 29 consisting of two boundaries and two hits into the stands. The Knight Riders finally emerged victorious largely because of a solid partnership between wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Ramdin who scored a 31-ball 26 and ensured stability after the side was restricted to a score of 90/7 while chasing down a tricky target of 135.

Australian bowler Ben Hilfenhaus failed to deliver the goods when required, conceding 22 runs in the 19th over which virtually handed the trophy over to the chasing side, who were down and out at one stage. With the commencement of the tournament, let’s take a look at the players who make the cut for the final XI:

1. Chadwick Walton

The 32-year-old Jamaica based wicketkeeper batsman has emerged as the highest run-getter in the tournament smashing 458 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 145.85 and an average of 41.63. Chadwick Walton emerged as a revelation of the tournament with his mammoth tally at the top of the order which will hold him in good stead in the eyes of the selectors for upcoming international clashes.

2. Chris Gayle

The swashbuckling West Indian legend finished as the third highest run-getter scoring 376 runs in 12 matches at an average of 62.66 and strike rate of 127.02. Gayle’s recent performances preceding the CPL earned him a lot of criticism from the critics who believed that the 37-year-old was clearly past his prime. Gayle has come out all guns blazing in the CPL reducing the fielders and bowlers to mere spectators.

3. Kumar Sangakkara

The legendary Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman scored 379 runs in just 11 matches at a strike rate of 135.84 and an average of 42.11. His ability to accumulate tons of runs at the age of 39 for the Tallawahs certainly gives us a glimpse into his skill to adapt and improvise in any format.

4. Colin Munro

The Kiwi swashbuckling batsman has smashed 366 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 135.05 and average of 36.60. His performances with the willow have made the vital difference between a victory and a defeat for the Trinbago Knight Riders as he emerged as a match winner in a couple of tricky fixtures.

5. Kieron Pollard

West Indian sensational all-rounder Kieron Pollard has smashed 264 runs in just 10 matches at a strike rate of 150 and an average of 33. His ability to bludgeon the ball and chip in with vital breakthroughs makes his spot in the final XI nothing short of a no-brainer.

6. Dwayne Bravo

The captain of the Knight Riders has been a vital contributor on all fronts which has played a key role in their triumph this season. Bravo snapped 16 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 13.75 and further chipped in with a few crucial blows at the fag end of the innings, giving his side the much-needed impetus.

7. Mohammad Nabi

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots cricketer who hails from Afghanistan boasts of the second highest strike rate in the league – a mind-boggling 196 per 100 balls over 12 matches. This has played a major role in ensuring that his team finished strong in the latter end of the innings. Not only this, Nabi has also chipped in with tidy overs at crucial intervals which have stemmed the flow of the runs for oppositions.

8. Sohail Tanvir

The Pakistani unorthodox all-rounder has swooped the highest number of wickets in the CPL scooping 17 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 18.52 and strike rate of 15.8. He further achieved the feat of conceding the least runs as a bowler after picking up a five-wicket haul when he recorded figures of 5/3.

9. Rayad Emrit

The 36-year-old veteran who plies his trade for the Guyana Amazon Warriors has clearly brought all his experience into play in this tournament. 15 wickets in just 12 matches at an average of 21.20 and economy rate of 7.60 paints a picture of a man who clearly knows how to outwit the opposing batsman and justifies that he can be a match-winner on his day.

10. Kesrick Williams

The 27-year-old who represents the Tallawahs has emerged as a candidate to watch out for some eye-catching performances and maturity beyond the years. Williams has outwitted 15 batsmen in just 11 matches at a strike rate of 16.4 and average of 26.06 which will surely hand him an opportunity to establish his credentials as a pace spearhead for the national team.

11. Rashid Khan

The wily Afghanistan based leg-spinner has again proven his credentials as one of the best in the T20 format for the Guyana Amazon Warriors after a spectacular show in the IPL. Khan’s tally of 14 wickets in 12 matches seems all the more impressive considering the fact that spinners are made mincemeat of in the ruthless T20 format. His ability to hold his own with an exceptional economy rate of 5.82 and average of 19.42 speak volumes of his control and maturity at a tender age of 19.