Zouks aim to bounce back from defeat against resolute Patriots
Daren Sammy’s St. Lucia Zouks prepare for the return game against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Thursday, August 27 as the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League reaches the midway stage of the league round.
The two sides find themselves on different ends of the league table with the Zouks near the top while the Patriots are currently rock bottom. However, the Zouks come into this game following a loss, while the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots got their first win of the 2020 campaign last time around. It was the Zouks who got a relatively convincing win last time around, this game is sure to be more keenly contested given the current form of both sides.
Head-to-Head record
| St. Lucia Zouks | St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots |
| 4 | 5 |
Matches between the Zouks and the Patriots have been keenly contested in the past, as suggested by the close head-to-head record. Daren Sammy’s side emerged victorious when these sides met less than a week ago in CPL 2020. The Patriots have struggled for consistency so far in the competition and are currently bottom of the table, but they are coming off a win and would be more of a challenge for the Zouks this time around.
Watch out for:
Mohammad Nabi was the top scorer for the Zouks in their previous clash against the Trinbago Knight Riders, continuing his fine showing with the bat. With the likes of Roston Chase and Mark Deyal shepherding the top-order, Nabi is allowed to play his natural game and attack from the get go. Keeping the Afghani batsman quiet would be a key part of opposition plays as the reverse legs begin in CPL 2020.
Kesrick Williams has been a reliable player with the ball in hand for the St. Lucia Zouks this season. He has been Daren Sammy’s go to player under pressure, and he has inadvertently delivered. Williams’ experience, variation and ability to stay calm under pressure have made him a vital part of the Zouks contingent this season.
Opponent Corner
The St.Kitts and Nevis Patriots were winless after three games and were staring down the barrel in CPL 2020. However, their last game against the Barbados Tridents would have restored some hope. Evin Lewis starred for the Patriots that day, scoring 89 and the Patriots fans would hope that such carnage can be repeated when they play St. Lucia next.
Apart from Lewis, the likes of Ben Dunk and Chris Lynn are serious threats to any opposition if they get going. On the bowling front, foreign players Sohail Tanvir and Jon-Russ Jaggesar have been the most consistent for the Patriots so far.
Probable XI: Andre Fletcher, Rakheem Cornwall, Mark Deyal, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Daren Sammy (c), Roston Chase, Scott Kuggelejin, Chemar Holder, Kesrick Williams, Saad Bin Zafar.
NOTE:The aforementioned line-up is an educated guess at best, and the final decision rests with the captain and the team management depending on various external factors.
About St Lucia Zouks
St Lucia Zouks is the representative team of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) of Cricket. Founded in 2013, the team has been competing in the tournament since its inception and is currently owned by KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd – the consortium that owns Kings XI Punjab.
The team is named after St Lucia, one of the four islands in the Caribbean known for its rich creole culture which is represented in its logo. A vibrant mix of blues and yellows, the logo also has a flame symbol that is derived from the national flag, representing a desire to win. In 2016, the team held the record of winning six out of ten games securing the third position in the league. St Lucia Zouks is a popular team among cricket fans around the world.
This year, the team will be coached by Andy Flower and captained by Daren Sammy who is leading the squad for the first time. Players comprise Mohammad Nabi, Andre Fletcher, Kesrick Williams, Rahkeem Cornwall, Chemar Holder, Javelle Glen, Mark Deyal, Leniko Boucher, Kavem Hodge, Obed McCoy, Kimani Melius, Saad Bin Zafar, Scott Kuggelein, Roston Chase, Najibullah Zadran and Zahir Khan.
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