The 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is heading to an exciting climax with Trinbago Knight Riders set to take on St Lucia Zouks in the final at Tarouba on Thursday. Trinbago Knight Riders are unbeaten in CPL 2020 and will be favourites heading into Thursday’s grand finale. However, St Lucia Zouks aren’t pushovers and have the players at their disposal to stand up and be counted on when it matters most. Here, we have a look at the players from both teams who could be the difference-makers in the final.

Lendl Simmons

Trinbago Knight Riders�?leading run-getter (272) this season, Lendl Simmons will be eager to finish the tournament on a high, having played a significant role in his side’s unbeaten run to the final. The explosive right-hander scored an unbeaten 54 in the semi-final win over Jamaica Tallawahs and is averaging 30.22 at a strike rate of 112.40 in CPL 2020. 

Simmons�?fifty against Jamaica was his second of the tournament following his 96 against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, and it won’t come as much of a surprise if he’s among the runs in the final. His ability to find the boundary ropes frequently has seen him hit 18 fours and 16 sixes this season.

Fawad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed has been one of Trinbago Knight Riders�?most impressive bowlers this season having claimed 11 scalps at an average of 19.45. He has come good with the ball by picking up wickets at crucial junctures and breaking partnerships. His best performance in the tournament so far came against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. Fawad seemed to be unplayable against the Patriots and finished with the Player of the Match award courtesy of his figures of four for 21.

However, he went wicketless against the Zouks in his last meeting against them and you can rest assured that he’ll be looking to set the record straight on Thursday.

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo’s ability to consistently contribute with both bat and ball is what makes him so special, and an asset for any team to have. The all-rounder from Trinidad’s ability to keep a lid on proceedings during the death overs could well prove to be crucial in the final and his abundance of experience in the T20 format is certain to make for an assuring presence for the rest of his teammates to have on the field. Bravo, in fact, thrives under the pressure of competing in the shortest format of the game and recently became the first player to 500 T20 wickets. Expect him to make his presence felt in one way or another in the final.

Scott Kuggeleijn

No bowler has managed more than Scott Kuggeleijn’s 16 wickets in the CPL this season. He picked up two wickets in his very first over in the semi-final and will be confident in his ability to make a difference against the Knight Riders. The New Zealander took two wickets in his last meeting against Thursday’s finalists but was slightly expensive, having conceded 35 from his four overs. Needless to say, Kuggeleijn will be keen to keep things tighter in the final as he hopes to finish as the season’s top wicket-taker. He boasts a bowling average of 14.75 and a strike rate 11.31, making him the Zouks�?biggest threat with the ball.          

Roston Chase

The all-rounder from Barbados has scored 203 runs at an average of 40.60 and a strike rate of 106.84 so far. Roston Chase’s runs have come at important times for the Zouks and he’s hit two fifties, besides also contributing with the ball. He’s taken eight wickets from 10 matches and has an impressive bowling average of 15.25. Chase’s economy rate of 4.88 is also one of the best in the CPL this season and his strike rate of 18.75 isn’t bad either.

Having failed to make an impact in the Zouks�?previous two matches against the Knight Riders this year, Chase will be itching to have a say when it matters most.

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After 30 incredible matches, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to enter its semi-final stage, with table-toppers Trinbago Knight Riders taking on Jamaica Tallawahs and the Guyana Amazon Warriors battling St. Lucia Zouks for a place in the final.

With some of the sport’s finest players in action, we take a look at five players who could prove to be the difference in the semis:

Kieron Pollard �?Trinbago Knight Riders

Skipper Kieron Pollard has led the Trinbago Knight Riders brilliantly this campaign, as the tournament favourites recorded 10 victories in 10 outings in the group stage.

Pollard has taken a back seat and allowed the Knight Riders�?incredible batting line-up to flourish. However, the captain has been brilliant when called upon, having scored 207 in just seven innings at an incredible average of 51.75 and a scarcely believable strike rate of 204.95.

Pollard has hit 20 sixes, averaging just under three per innings - the most by any player in the CPL this season. The 33-year-old has proven himself to be one of the best big-game players in T20 history and it would come as no surprise if Pollard delivers a match-winning performance in the semi-final.

Andre Russell �?Jamaica Tallawahs

Speaking of match-winners, few would argue that all-rounder Andre Russell is the most dangerous opponent to play against in T20s.

Like Pollard, Russell has batted just seven times this season and scored 220 runs at an average of 55, the best of any batsman during this year's tournament.

Russell’s incredible strike rate of 144.73 is bettered only by Pollard and Sunil Narine (150.53), proving yet again why he’s been touted as one of the deadliest batsmen in T20 cricket.

The 32-year-old has also picked up four wickets despite bowling just 11 overs this season with an economy rate of 8.18, illustrating that he can deal damage with the ball in his hands too.

The Tallawahs barely scraped through to the semi-finals, however. But having made it here, they’ll be hopeful that their talisman can guide them past the only undefeated team in the CPL this season.

Imran Tahir �?Guyana Amazon Warriors

Veteran spinner Imran Tahir is ageing like fine wine and has been one of the best bowlers in the CPL this season.

The eccentric South African has picked up 15 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of just 5.51. Tahir also boasts of a tremendous average of 14.33 and a strike rate of just 15.6.

The 41-year-old is level on 15 wickets alongside Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the leading wicket-taker in the CPL this season and few would bet against the spinner finishing on top of the wickets chart come the end of the season.

Scott Kuggeleijn -  St. Lucia Zouks

In a season that has been thoroughly dominated by spinners, New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn has been the league’s best pacer, with 14 wickets, just one fewer than Tahir and Mujeeb, who lead the league with 15.

The 28-year-old has a respectable economy rate of 7.95 and a tremendous strike rate of just 12 this season for the Zouks.

Alongside Kesrick Williams, Kuggeleijn has formed the most potent bowling tandem in the CPL this season and the duo, along with spinner Mohammad Nabi, hold the key to the Zouks�?success in the semi-final and maybe even beyond.

Darren Bravo �?Trinbago Knight Riders

After losing Sunil Narine to injury, the Knight Riders needed one of their batsmen to fill in for Narine’s contribution with the bat and veteran Darren Bravo has played that role to perfection, scoring 239 runs, the third-highest tally in the league.

The 31-year-old has batted eight times this season and boasts of a terrific average of 47.80. While his strike rate of 113.27 is rather lacklustre for the format, Bravo makes up with consistency in what he lacks as a power-hitter for the Knight Riders.

Bravo has been thoroughly reliable this season and the tournament-favourites will be expecting the 31-year-old to continue his form in the semi-final as well.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda

As expected, the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches have been action-packed and thrilling to watch. Batsmen have entertained with lusty blows and quick-fire knocks, while the bowlers have more than held their own and even got the better of the men with the bat in hand on a few occasions. With CPL 2020 now entering its second week of action, here are few players worth keeping an eye on between now and the end of the season.

Roston Chase

Roston Chase has been enjoying himself with both bat and ball in the 2020 CPL. The all-rounder from Barbados has scored two fifties in St Lucia Zouks�?first four matches of the season and is one of the reasons behind his team being in the current top two in the standings. Chase has also contributed with the ball with his 3-for-12 from four overs against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots proving to be crucial for their win in that match. Second on the leaderboard for most runs so far this season, Chase’s 66 in St Lucia Zouks�?last outing against Guyana Amazon Warriors turned out to be a Player of the Match performance and helped his team to another win.

Colin Munro

After missing out following an explosive start during league leaders Trinbago Knight Riders�?first match of the season, Colin Munro showed that he’s in fine form in their next two games.

The South Africa-born New Zealand international cricketer sits third in the current leaderboard for most runs in the CPL this season and will be looking to continue with his power-packed displays after an unbeaten 49 and a 30-ball 50 in his last two innings. Player of the Match in the Knight Riders�?last game, he’s hit more fours (13) than any other player and currently boasts the best average (58) among batsmen this season.

Darren Bravo

Another Trinbago Knight Riders batsman who is having a decent season and looks likely to continue in similar fashion is Darren Bravo. The elegant left-hand batsman gave us a glimpse of what he’s capable of during his unbeaten 36-ball 54 that helped the Knight Riders win their last game. A powerful striker of the ball who can tailor his game according to match situations, Darren is averaging 49 in CPL 2020 and has been making the opposition bowlers toil after getting his eye in. Only Jason Holder (8) and Glenn Phillips (7) have hit more maximums than his six sixes so far.

Scott Kuggeleijn

Among the wickets in all four of St Lucia Zouks�?games this season, Scott Kuggeleijn presently tops the wicket-taking charts in CPL 2020 with 10 scalps to his name. The right-arm fast-medium bowler was particularly impressive in his last two outings, taking a four and three-wicket hauls during wins for the Zouks. His spell of 4-for-33 during the Zouks�?win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots is only bettered by Keemo Paul in as far as best bowling displays this season go. Kuggeleijn’s strike-rate of 9.10 is the best by a bowler thus far.

Imran Tahir

The veteran spinner has always been a difficult player to keep out of action when the ball is in his hand and the South African legend continues to prove his worth to the team with his performances on the field. Among the wickets in each of Guyana Amazon Warriors�?matches this season, Imran Tahir is second in the leaderboard for most wickets, having accounted for eight scalps from four games this year. His best performance came in a losing effort when his 3-for-22 against the Zouks went in vain. Tahir, though, will be pleased with his own individual performances and will fancy his chance of picking up more wickets as the season progresses.

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New Zealand paceman Scott Kuggeleijn will replace injured South African Lungi Ngidi at Team Chennai for the rest of the Indian T20 League season, the franchise announced Sunday.

 

AFP/ Mchael Bradley

Kuggeleijn, a bowling all-rounder who has played two one-day internationals and four Twenty20s for the Kiwis so far, is set to make his maiden appearance in the world's most popular T20 league.

Ngidi, South Africa's key fast bowler for the 50-over World Cup starting in May, withdrew from his Chennai team ahead of the 12th season with a side strain he suffered in a Sri Lanka ODI.

The recalled Doug Bracewell and debutant Scott Kuggeleijn starred with bat and ball for New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs in the one-off Twenty20 match in Auckland on Friday.

It ended a dismal tour for the Sri Lankans with the drawn first Test followed by a succession of losses in the second Test, three one-dayers and the Twenty20. 

New Zealand, sent into bat, recovered from 55 for five to finish on 179 for seven with Bracewell (44) and Kuggeleijn (35 not out) the key contributors.

Fiona Goodall/AFP

Although the target was not daunting, and Sri Lanka easily kept up with the required run-rate to be four for 118 after 12 overs.

But their last six wickets fell for the addition of only 26 more runs and the innings folded for 144 with 19 balls remaining. 

Kuggeleijn and Bracewell both took wickets in their opening overs.

Kusal Perera, who raced to 22 off 12 deliveries was removed by Kuggeleijn's third delivery while Niroshan Dickwella, who smacked a four and a six from the first two balls of the innings, went for 18 with the first ball from Bracewell.

Kuggeleijn and Bracewell also took the catches to dismiss Kusal Mendis (17) and Thisara Perera (43). 

The first game all tour for Sadeera Samarawickrama was a short-lived affair when he was bowled first ball by Lockie Ferguson.

Ferguson finished with figures of three for 21 while Ish Sodhi took three for 30.

Sri Lanka did with the toss and put New Zealand into bat with impressive early results.

With a more disciplined bowling attack than was seen in the ODIs, and with astute field placements, Sri Lanka ripped through the New Zealand top order to have them four for 27 midway through the fourth over. 

Ross Taylor, who tormented Sri Lanka in the one-dayers, had to play a more circumspect role.

His first 11 runs were all singles from 22 deliveries before he first found the boundary on his way to 33 off 37. 

Taylor's patience, however, had set the stage for the Bracewell and Kuggeleijn to hit out and give the total some respectability.

Bracewell clubbed 44 off 26 balls including five sixes and a four while Kuggeleijn only faced 15 deliveries to be not out 35 with four sixes and a four.

New Zealand now prepare to host India in a series of ODIs while Sri Lanka head to Australia.