CPL 2020 – St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Vs Trinbago Knight Riders (SKN vs TKR) Game Plan

CPL 2020 has sparked some interesting T20 matchups. Here, we look at the key game plans and tactical strategies that could play a role in the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders (SKN vs TKR) game in CPL 2020.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders (SKN vs TKR) Game Plan 1

How crucial is the Toss?

We are into the last 2 matches of the league stage. The playoff spots have already been decided, with the Knight Riders facing the Tallawahs in the first game on Tuesday followed by the Amazon Warriors taking on the Zouks later on the same day.

In order to finish their season on a high, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots should look to emulate their performance against Barbados Tridents (their only win). It’s easier said than done though; Trinbago Knight Riders have lived up to the pre-season hype and have won all nine of their games so far.

The Knight Riders have an in-form batting unit, and they have found a batsman to step up in each of their games so far. Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard have all played match-winning knocks this season. Pollard in particular has been particularly destructive in the last couple of matches, both with bat and ball.

Also Read: CPL 2020 – Trinbago Knight Riders Vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (TKR vs SKN) Game Plan: Stifling Pollard and Fixing the Patriots’ Bowling (Read an earlier game plan on how to stop Pollard)

It remains to be seen though if the Knight Riders will play a full-strength team or give their players a rest and give opportunities to the other players in the squad. The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots however, will want to win the toss and bat first. Since the return to the Brain Lara Cricket Stadium in Tarouba, the team batting first has won all the day games, with first-innings scores of 184/4, 174/4, 46/0 (rained out) and 175/5.

The toss becomes vital in this scenario, especially as the ball came on to the bat nicely yesterday in both the games. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will definitely want to bat first, while the Knight Riders might want to challenge themselves by fielding.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders (SKN vs TKR) Game Plan 2

Just keep it out of their reach!

In this CPL, Trinbago Knight Riders have been the fastest scoring team in the final five overs, as well as the the 2nd most economical bowling-wise. This phase is where they have taken the match away from the opposition and it is absolutely vital to execute plans correctly against them. Kieron Pollard is the key wicket in the slog overs for the bowling team. He has scored at 15.5 rpo and hits a six every four balls.

Kieron Pollard has been a force to reckon with in the death overs. His role will be equally important in this SKN vs TKR game.

St Lucia Zouks yesterday started off well against Pollard. They looked to bowl full and wide, mixed with sharp shoulder-height bumpers. Pollard top-edged a Sammy bouncer for four and edged a full wide ball from Kuggeleijn for four as well. Pollard moved around in his crease to counter their strategy and eventually ended up being dismissed by a wide length ball.

This should be key for the left-arm fast bowlers in the Patriots camp today. Aim for the wide yorker from over the wicket, and restrict him from scoring on the shorter side of the boundary. From the other end, they can attempt the bouncer strategy, but it is important to execute correctly.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders (SKN vs TKR) Game Plan 3

Can the Patriots salvage some pride?

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have just one win from nine games this season. They will want to go out on a high, and what better way for that than by halting the Knight Riders juggernaut? In their only win against the Barbados Tridents, Evin Lewis made a fluent 89 at the top of the order.

In fact, the contribution by their top three is the second-highest for any team this season, after the Knight Riders themselves. It’s important for the Patriots to have a good partnership at the top, as they have played Sohail Tanvir and Alzarri Joseph at 6 and 7 in this tournament on a few occasions, which alone speaks magnitude of their batting depth.

The likes of Evin Lewis, Chris Lynn and Joshua da Silva, as well as Ben Dunk down the order must step up in order for the Patriots to finish the season strong.