Judging from the tempo and results in their first home game, the St. Lucia Zouks look like they are regrouped from their disappointing run on the road and are ready to dominate their opponents at home. However, today is expected to be a tougher challenge than the previous one as they prepare to face Barbados Tridents from noon in the 22nd match of this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
On Thursday night Zouks overpowered St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots to claim only their second win in this edition of CPL after triumphing in the season opener over current champions Trinbago Knight Riders. The win could not have come at a better place and time for the host as the match marked a special moment in the life of the Zouks skipper Darren Sammy and opener Johnson Charles.
It was the night when the Beausejour Stadium was officially renamed the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium and a stand was named in honour of Charles, the Johnson Charles Stand. Both players signaled their intent on such a particular night, but it was Sammy’s special that kept the Zouks hopes alive of reaching the next round.
He lashed his way to 59 from 35 deliveries, powering the ball over the ropes five times while hitting it flat twice. During that period his side recovered to reach 174-9 and returned to restrict the Patriots to 139-9.
It was indeed a very exhilarating encounter which ended in Zouks favour as they revenged an earlier loss to Patriots. However, this time around they will be up against tougher opponents and 2014 champions, Tridents. Currently in third position on the points table and with a very tall batting line up, comprising hitters such as Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran along with classy Pakistani duo Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shehzad, beating the Tridents seems a difficult task.
Their bowling is a bit on the weak side but if their seamers and spinners could joined forces and be discipline in their line and length, they would be able to peg down the Zouks batsmen.
Squad: St. Lucia Zouks- Darren Sammy (captain), Shane Watson, David Miller, Michael Hussey, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Morne Morkel, Derone Davis, Jerome Taylor, Grant Elliott, Shane Shillingford, Kristopher Ramsarran, Delorn Johnson, Kyle Mayers, Keddy Lesporis, Nitish Kumar and Gidron Pope.
Barbados Tridents- Kieron Pollard (captain), Shoaib Malik, Ravi Rampaul, Nicholas Pooran, David Wiese, Robin Petersen, Raymon Reifer, Ashley Nurse, Shamar Springer, Akeal Hosein, Imran Khan, Kyle Hope, Navin Stewart, Kyle Corbin, Steven Taylor, Ahmed Shehzad and Marchant de Lange
