Barbados Royals gear up for another heavyweight clash at home as they take on defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday.
The Royals enter the fixture on the back of their first defeat of the CPL 2024 season after they lost to Trinbago Knight Riders by two wickets on Friday. However, it was a gritty clash, with the batters putting up a good total, and the bowlers fighting till the very end. Thus, the Royals won’t be too deterred by the hiccup. They started the season with three wins in a row and would love to return to winning ways against the table-toppers, Guyana.
In the batting department, Quinton de Kock has been the star at the top of the order. Skipper Rovman Powell was back in his element against Trinbago, where he top-scored with 59* off 38 balls. The South African duo of David Miller and Keshav Maharaj have also been firing since their return. Youngsters like Alick Athanaze and Rivaldo Clarke have looked good too. However, power-hitter Rahkeem Cornwall's form has been a cause of concern. He has been out for a duck in the last three outings and needs to get his mojo back quickly.
When it comes to the bowling brigade, almost everyone has shown up for the team. However, Maheesh Theekshana and Obed McCoy have been the pick of the lot. Both of them have picked seven wickets each in the 2024 edition. Jason Holder and Naveen-ul-Haq also have been good, but a tad more expensive than the rest. Maharaj also has stuck to his guns in the two matches he has played till now, picking two wickets with an economy of 6.37.
When it comes to head-to-head records, Guyana have been the more dominant side. The two teams have met 24 times in the CPL, with Barbados winning on eight occasions as opposed to Guyana’s 16. However, this season both teams have a solid bunch of players who could turn the tides on either side. A win on Saturday would see the Royals topple Guyana to take the top spot.
OPPONENT WATCH
Guyana Amazon Warriors, the defending champions, are the current leaders in the CPL 2024 points table. They have won all three of their games this season and also enjoy a healthy NRR of 2.527. Their matches against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Saint Lucia Kings were completely one-sided affairs. While they won by 40 runs against the Patriots, they demolished the Kings in just 10 overs.
When it comes to the attack, Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shimron Hetmyer have been solid at the top. They have combined to score 254 runs between them. Shai Hope and Keemo Paul have also made some solid cameos for the Warriors. However, the form of Pakistan's Azam Khan has been a worry for them.
Amongst the bowlers, Gudakesh Motie has been a revelation, picking up nine wickets in three matches. He has been ably supported by captain and ace spinner, Imran Tahir and Dwaine Pretorius. They have the right arsenal and would be looking to thwart the Royals' charge.
MATCH DETAILS
CPL 2024, Match 16: Barbados Royals vs Guyana Amazon Warriors
Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Date & Time: September 14, 7:00 PM local time | 4:30 AM IST (September 15)
Where to watch: Star Sports Network and FanCode
ROYALS TO WATCH
Rovman Powell: The Royals’ skipper found his mojo against Trinbago, where he scored 59* off 38 balls to secure a solid total for his team. His stewardship on the field has also been crucial for the team and has been praised by many. Against the Amazon Warriors, he would look to add more runs to his name and guide his team tactically through crucial junctures.
Maheesh Theekshana: When talking about consistency, it's been hard to look past the 24-year-old Sri Lankan. He has been spinning a web in CPL 2024 and already has seven wickets to his name. His economy of 5.75 is also one of the best this season. If he continues with his streak of taking early wickets, Guyana will find it hard to come back in the match.
FULL SQUADS
Barbados Royals: Rovman Powell (captain), Alick Athanaze, Kevin Wickham, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Nathan Sealy, Rahkeem Cornwall, Quinton de Kock, Rivaldo Clarke, Dunith Wellalage, Isai Thorne, Kadeem Alleyne, Maheesh Theekshana, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nyeem Young, Obed McCoy, Ramon Simmonds, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir (captain), Romario Shepherd, Shimron Hetmyer, Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, Raymon Reifer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shamar Joseph, Saim Ayub, Kevlon Anderson, Azam Khan, Junior Sinclair, Dwaine Pretorius, Matthew Nandu, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul