CPL 2020 | Semi-final 1 - Trinbago Knight Riders vs Jamaica Tallawahs - Statistical Preview

ByFun88, SportsCafe Editor

09/07/2020

We are edging closer to reaching the end game, with the powerful Trinbago Knight Riders taking on the Jamaica Tallawahs in the first semi-final of the competition. Only one could walk away as victors in this mouth-watering contest between table-toppers Knight Riders and two-time champs Tallawahs.

Form Guide

Trinbago Knight Riders - W W W W W

There is nothing flawless in the world. Oh, wait. Trinbago Knight Riders in this year’s CPL have been flawless. This is a team which did not lose a single game during the 10-game season this year, registering 10 wins and clinching 20 points that others tried so hard to steal away from them. However, all of that now would be history, given that one bad day could mean that they are on their way out of the competition despite finishing the group stages as table-toppers. While Sunil Narine and Colin Munro sort of set a momentum for the team, the likes of Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons picked up the pace towards the end of the tournament, which only reads danger for the Tallawahs. From the bowing front too, they have no loose ends, and they will start up the semi-final as the firm favourites.

Jamaica Tallawahs - L L NR L W

Tallawahs should consider themselves lucky for reaching the semi-final stage of the competition, after a major breakdown in their form during the tournament. After their win against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Tallawahs have only desired victory to no avail, losing three games and escaping with a washout in one other, where they were on the backfoot. However, what could be an advantage to them is this is a new start, with this game having the ability to flip everything upside down in just forty overs. Their trust too would naturally lie on the shoulders of Glenn Phillips and Andre Russell. While the Kiwi batsman has scored 314 runs in the tournament, in terms of sheer brute force, Russell could walk in and destroy the bowlers in the span of a few seconds. Head-to-head this season, the results don’t favour them, as they have lost to the Knight Riders - twice.

Key Batsmen

Trinbago Knight Riders - Kieron Pollard

Big match situation, big match player, all calls for attention towards one player, Kieron Pollard. This guy knows how to win, more specifically, how to bat in crucial situations to bail his team out of trouble. In the past, we have seen the right-hander do it with the Mumbai Indians during the knockout games of the IPL and there's no reason why he cannot replicate those feats. In this tournament, while he has had a tough start, Pollard has picked up the pace just like his counterpart Andre Rusell and, if anything, his recent form suggests that he could very well be TKT’s best batsman on the night. While the side is indeed filled with some superstars at the top of the order, Pollard’s influence on his team cannot be compromised, with him having scored 207 runs in the last nine encounters, at an average of 51.75. Moreso, his recent form - 42, 33, 72 - suggests that he is ready for the big night.

Jamaica Tallawahs - Glenn Phillips

Glenn Phillips' average in T20s might be just 31.72, but it doesn’t really paint the picture of the kind of season he is having in the CPL. Thus far in the ten games, no one, I repeat, no one has scored more runs than the Kiwi top-order batsman, with the right-hander having 314 runs under his kitty at an average of 39.25, numbers which show that he can score and bat dependably at the same time. He has faced a good number of deliveries in the tournament, 246 to be precise, to suggest that he could play the long-game, more than anyone in the competition and in this Tallawahs side. His recent form (49, 17, 41, 79) only suggests that he will get better during this encounter against the Knight Riders. If Tallawahs are indeed ready to break the shackles, their go-to-batsman would be Phillips.

Key Bowlers

Trinbago Knight Riders - Fawad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed has, by far, been the best of the bowler this season for the Trinbago Knight Riders. Despite the presence of Dwayne ‘500’ Bravo, the Pakistan-born Australian leggie’s form has been incredible for the Knight Riders. Ably supported by his statistics, which show he has picked up 10 wickets in the competition, giving away only 185 runs suggests that he would be the key bowler for the franchise against the Tallawahs, who have struggled in the past against spin. With him already having a four-fer under his name in this tournament, Kieron Pollard might have to go to his leg-spinner for attacking the Tallawahs from the word ‘go.’

Jamaica Tallawahs - Mujeeb ur Rahman

Let’s make it absolutely clear, he is the favourite bowler for the Tallawahs and surely he is one of the best bowlers in the competition. Joint best in the tournament with South African leggie Imran Tahir, the Afghan leggie has the opportunity to cement himself as the best bowler of CPL 2020. If you are indeed asking about his form, he has picked up 15 wickets in the competition, at an average of 13.26, and these numbers suggest that he would indeed strike against the Trinbago Knight Riders. While he has not yet picked up a four-fer or a five-fer, it might very well be high time for him to make that deep impact and leave a long-lasting impression on this edition of the tournament.

Trinbago Knight Riders would walk into the contest favourites to score most sixes, given that this season, they have dominated the sixers chart. Thus far in the tournament, they have scored 74 sixes, with 20 coming off Kieron Pollard’s blade, which only makes both them and you favourites to land 2x return home. So what are you really waiting and looking for?

FUN88 PREDICTIONS

Predicted XIs

Trinbago Knight Riders: Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales, Ali Khan, Fawad Ahmed

Jamaica Tallawahs: Glenn Phillips, Chadwick Walton (wk), Nicholas Kirton, Rovman Powell (c), Asif Ali, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Veerasammy Permaul, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Oshane Thomas

Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad

When to Watch: Sep 08, 7.30 PM IST

Where to Watch: Star Sports Network and Fan Code