Antigua and Barbuda Falcons vs Trinbago Knight Riders, CPLT20, Today Match Prediction

ABF vs TKR Match Prediction & Analysis

CPL, the cricket carnival, got underway last weekend and the focus shifts to this crucial encounter between Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and Trinbago Knight Riders in North Sound. Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are trying to break a string of losses while Trinbago Knight Riders look to add to their winning start.

Falcons have got off to the worst ever start imaginable, losing all their four matches. Knight Riders, on the other hand, have completed a huge 44-run win in their first and only match of this year’s competition. They bossed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots the other day, with Nicholas Pooran in punitive mood.

These teams don’t match up quite well and this contest will be lopsided in all likelihood, but cricket as we know it is a game of uncertainties and any team can beat any other team on their day.

ABF vs TKR Betting News

TEAMS PREVIEW

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons Preview

Four successive defeats in the competition would have dampened the mood in the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons camp, but Chris Green would be working hard to lift his team’s spirits and get his teammates to focus on turning things around.

Having been put into bat in each match, Falcons could never post enough runs on the board, something that would allow their bowlers to put the pressure right back on the chasing team. Jewel Andrew and Fakhar Zaman have done reasonably well, scoring 123 runs and 121 runs respectively. But the rest of the batting line-up never looked comfortable, particularly Sam Billings and Kofi James. Without them firing, the middle order looks quite vulnerable.

Imad Wasim showed flashes of brilliance in one of the games, but Chris Green hasn’t been able to make any impact with the bat coming down the order. With subpar totals to defend, the bowlers hardly got anything to work with, but that’s no excuse for the poor performance from a bowler of the calibre of Mohammed Amir.

Slow bowlers Chris Green and Imad Wasim have tied the opposition down and picked up 8 wickets between them, but the fast bowlers have been largely pedestrian but for Shamar Springer who has 6 wickets from 4 outings although at a higher economy rate. Pacers need to find a way to stop leaking runs and hit the good areas consistently to trouble the batsmen.

ABF Over/Under Betting Tips

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons Predicted Playing XI:

Fakhar Zaman, Justin Greaves, Kofi James, Sam Billings (wk), Jewel Andrew, Imad Wasim, Fabian Allen, Chris Green (capt), Roshon Primus, Shamar Springer, Mohammad Amir.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons Actual Playing XI:

Fakhar Zaman, Fabian Allen, Justin Greaves, Chris Green, Imad Wasim, Roshon Primus, Shamar Springer, Kofi James, Mohammad Amir, Jewel Andrew, Sam Billings

Trinbago Knight Riders Preview

Four-time champions and last year’s runners-up Trinbago Knight Riders opened their campaign with a bang, with Nicholas Pooran particularly in excellent nick. The flamboyant left hander couldn’t have asked for a better transition into franchise colors, after a successful 3-0 T20 series win over South Africa. He went ballistic from the word get go, and started smoking boundaries at will.

Batting first, Knight Riders got a smooth take-off thanks to Sunil Narine who got off to a flying start scoring 38 runs off 19 balls. Jason Roy stuttered his way to 6, before he was put out of his misery by a Nortje missile. But in came Nicholas Pooran with a mission. He tore apart the St Kitts bowlers, taking seven sixes off Dominic Drakes and Tabraiz Shamsi. His 43 ball 97 run effort also included plenty of boundaries. Keacy Carty kept Pooran company and helped himself to a nice fifty before finishing with 73 runs off 35 balls.

 Defending 251, Knight Riders removed two wickets in the first two overs, but they were sent on a bit of leather hunt later by Evin Lewis and Mikyle Louis. Sunil Narine got through his quota of overs giving away 6 runs per over and picking up a couple of key wickets. The rest of the bowling group was ordinary, and that’s one area they might want to improve on coming into this contest.

TKR Over/Under Betting Tips

Trinbago Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI:

Jason Roy, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (capt), Keacy Carty, Shaqkere Parris, Nathan Edward, Dwayne Bravo, Josh Little, Waqar Salamkheil, Terrance Hinds.

Trinbago Knight Riders Actual Playing XI:

Keacy Carty, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Terrance Hinds, Akeal Hosein, Joshua Little, Waqar Salamkheil, Shaqkere Parris, Andries Gous

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The North Sound pitch is not among the high scoring venues in this part of the world, but batsmen do like playing their shots here. You may not have seen many 200s scored here, but any score above 180 should be competitive provided the bowling group bowls to plans and keep things nice and tidy. Weather conditions don’t sound any alarm but we may see passing showers so a rain interruption can’t be ruled out.

ABF vs TKR Pitch Report

The match will be played at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. Trinbago Knight Riders have a 100% win record at this venue, having completed a thumping 9 wicket win against Antigua 10 years ago.

Toss: To Bowl

Chasing seems to be the flavour of the season, and for good reason. Only one team has successfully managed to defend their total in the six matches so far. Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, having lost all their tosses, will be hoping that one goes their way and they get to bat second. Trinbago Knight Riders wouldn’t mind chasing either.