Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
CPL 2019 Qualifier 1: GAW vs BT Preview Dream11. Possible Playing XI and Pitch Report. GAW vs BT Dream11 Prediction
It is not often that such a huge gap appears between first and second place in a T20 table.
Or any table for that matter.
Guyana Amazon Warriors, far and away the best side of CPL 2019, completed the perfect ten ahead of the playoffs. They finished a huge 10 points in front of their nearest competitor in a show of total dominance in the league stage. Now, they are just one game away from their fifth attempt at gaining CPL glory. Will this FINALLY be their time?
Standing in their way are the Barbados Tridents. Remarkably, BT sat outside the top four with two games still to play, and yet finished in second place thanks to two strong performances to finish the league stage. They have been outplayed comfortably twice by GAW this season, but can they turn the tables and be the first team to reach the CPL 2019 Final?
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Key to a GAW win
Whatever the Warriors have faced this season, they have come through with flying colours. The experience of Shoaib Malik has been a magnificent addition for GAW this season, with his own form combining beautifully with the influence he has on his teammates. GAW’s second last match saw them reduced to 8/4, but with Malik leading the way, the Warriors have proved indestructible so far.
So, can GAW put together the perfect batting displays in the crunch games? King and Hemraj, the hard-hitting openers, have been key to their success. If Malik, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran and Sherfan Rutherford get a strong platform to play off, it could mean bad news for the Tridents.
Also, GAW’s superb spin attack has been a key part of their wonderful tournament. Imran Tahir remains hot property in the T20 world after his international retirement, and with Chris Green and Qais Ahmed consistent, the Warriors can bank on at least nine overs of quality spin bowling. The Tridents have plenty of talent in their side, which the Warriors need to stifle right from the early stages.
Also read: Four lost CPL Finals. Will 2019 finally be GAW’s year?
Key to a BT win
If there is a side that can trouble GAW in a game like this, it is the Tridents. The addition of Shakib Al Hasan has improved the Tridents in the later league matches, producing crunch performances as a team to reach second place. Much rests on how the top order copes with the spin threat of GAW, setting a strong platform for a total that can put the Warriors under pressure.
Also, can the Tridents trouble the Warriors’ top order? In Shakib, Jason Holder and Harry Gurney, BT have both wicket-taking and run-limiting capacity in the powerplay overs. How they fare against GAW’s hard-hitting opening combination could have a say in the result, as well as how Hayden Walsh, who has had a superb tournament, fares against the Warriors’ experienced middle order.
Possible Playing 11
GAW: 1. Brandon King, 2. Chandrapaul Hemraj, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Shoaib Malik (c), 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Keemo Paul, 8. Chris Green, 9. Qais Ahmed, 10. Ben Laughlin, 11. Imran Tahir
BT: 1. Johnson Charles (wk), 2. Alex Hales, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. JP Duminy, 5. Jonathan Carter, 6. Ashley Nurse, 7. Jason Holder (c), 8. Justin Greaves, 9. Raymon Reifer, 10. Hayden Walsh, 11. Harry Gurney
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Pitch and Conditions
There is a chance of a passing evening shower in Guyana. The average first innings score at Providence in CPL 2019 is 157. Similar scores can be expected in a pressure game on a slightly slow pitch.
Stats and Facts
- The team batting first has won three of the five matches at Providence in CPL 2019.
- Openers Johnson Charles (326) and Brandon King (321) sit third and fourth in the top run-scorers in CPL 2019.
- Shoaib Malik in CPL 2019: 281 runs, average: 93.66.
- GAW and BT bowlers dominate the wicket-taking chart. Hayden Walsh leads with 17, followed by Chris Green, Imran Tahir (13) and Jason Holder (12).
Also read: Four lost CPL Finals. Will 2019 finally be GAW’s year?
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
Option 2:
Match Prediction
Plenty at stake here as the winner will go through to the CPL 2019 Final.
Barbados Tridents certainly have the talent to challenge Guyana. However, the Warriors look a very well-drilled unit and will take this one out.
Thanks for reading!
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