T10 League 2018, Match 19, Kerala Knights vs Northern Warriors, Match Prediction: Who will win the Match?

The title is at stake for the Kerala Knights.

Published - 28 Nov 2018, 17:27 IST | Updated - 28 Nov 2018, 17:27 IST

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Only a last couple of days are left before the top four of the ongoing T10 League will be finalised and the race for the same is heating up big time. Also, this match will more or less determine if we will witness a new winner this season as the defending champions Kerala Knights are in a must-win situation. They are up against the strong Northern Warriors who are strong enough to beat any team at the moment.

The Knights have been strangely out of touch this year after stunning everyone last year. They have some of the superstars in the game but failed to put up a formidable show when it mattered the most. The team led by Eoin Morgan has to hit the straps somehow else the Warriors will literally blow them away with the kind of firepower they possess.

On the other hand, the Warriors almost botched up the chase of 92 runs the other day against the Sindhis and would be wary of the spin threat in this game as well. They are at the fourth position at the moment in the points table and a win will mostly seal their position in the playoffs. Their net run-rate is also in the positive and don’t have to worry much it either. Though a complete performance is needed from Darren Sammy and Co. to get past the Knights.

Pitch and Conditions

With the triple header in the prospect, this match will start under the sun and the temperatures will hover around 25-28 Degrees Celsius. The pitch, however, has taken a lot of beating over the last week which indicates that it will break early and make it a heaven for the spinners. Another low-scoring thriller might be in store for the fans.

Team Combinations

Kerala Knights

Jonny Bairstow is available for selection after signing a short-term deal with the franchise. He will be drafted in to open along with Chris Gayle as Upul Tharanga might make way for him who is struggling in the middle-order. Paul Stirling might come up at three with Eoin Morgan, Wayne Parnell and Kieron Pollard to follow. The bowling attack is also good for the Knights comprising of Sohail Tanvir, Sandeep Lamichhane and Fabian Allen.

Probable XI: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Gayle, Paul Stirling, Eoin Morgan (c), Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen, Wayne Parnell, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Naveed, Sandeep Lamichhane, Tom Curran/Reetinder Sodhi.

Northern Warriors

The Warriors are filled with the Caribbean players in the line-up as Nicholas Pooran and Lendl Simmons will open the innings with the Andre Russell batting mostly at number three. Dwayne Smith might replace the under-performing Rovman Powell in this game to strengthen their top four which is followed by the veteran Ravi Bopara and Darren Sammy.

The bowling is also a decent one for them as Chris Green has come into his own in this tournament and will be assisted by Wahab Riaz, Hardus Viljoen and Harry Gurney.

Probable XI: Nicholas Pooran (wk), Lendl Simmons, Andre Russell, Dwayne Smith/Rovman Powell, Ravi Bopara, Darren Sammy (c), Wahab Riaz, Chris Green, Hardus Viljoen, Harry Gurney, Imran Haider.