CPL 2018: Eliminator, Match Prediction- Who will win the match, Jamaica Tallawahs or St Kitts and Nevis Patriots?

After a nail-biting start to the playoffs, Jamaica Tallawahs and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will now lock horns at Providence Stadium in Guyana for the Eliminator. Both teams had pretty similar fortunes in the league phase, but at this point in time, they need to walk a tightrope as a complacent approach will bring the curtains down for the losing team in this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

In their previous two meetings, the teams have won one match each. The Tallawahs have already won the championship twice and have more experience than Chris Gayle’s men. On the contrary, after faltering at the final hurdle last time, the Patriots won’t have it easy as they have to win three matches on the trot to win the T20 tournament, something which also applies to Andre Russell and Co.

Pitch

The pitch turned out to be a spinner’s paradise and didn’t have much to offer to the fast bowlers the last night. A high scoring match can’t quite be expected as batting will be difficult, especially when the tweakers will be in operation. Teams are likely to bowl first and restrict the opposition after which their batsmen can strategise and have a crack at the target set by the opposition.

Team Combination

Jamaica Tallawahs

The Tallawahs are likely to go unchanged from their last match. Their batting lineup is a power-packed one with the likes of Phillips, Charles, Powell and Andre Russell in their ranks. Moreover, they have Russell and Oshane Thomas as two of their in-form bowlers. The spin department, consisting of Ish Sodhi, Samuel Badree and Steven Jacobs, looks a formidable one as well.

Predicted XI

Glenn Phillips (wk), Johnson Charles, Ross Taylor, Rovman Powell, David Miller, Andre Russell (C), Colin de Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi, Steven Jacobs, Samuel Badree, Oshane Thomas

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

The Patriots also won’t want to tinker with their winning combination. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis are the openers. The likes of Fabian Allen and Rassie van der Dussen are in decent form as well. They won’t have Mahmudullah in their ranks and hence, they may give leg-spinner Hayden Walsh an opportunity. The onus will also be on the experienced campaigners like Tabraiz Shamsi and Ben Cutting

Predicted XI

Chris Gayle (C), Evin Lewis, Rassie van der Dussen, Anton Devcich, Ibrahim Khaleel (wk), Fabian Allen, Ben Cutting, Alzarri Joseph, Tabraiz Shamsi, Hayden Walsh, Jeremiah Louis

Probable top performers

Ish Sodhi- Jamaica Tallawahs, Tabraiz Shamsi- St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

The prediction is for Jamaica Tallawahs to win the match and move to the Qualifier 2.