CPL 2020 – Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) Game Plan

CPL 2020 has sparked some interesting T20 match-ups. Here, we take a look at the key game plans and tactical thinkings that could play a role in the Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) game in CPL 2020. CPL 2020 Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) Game […]
 

CPL 2020 has sparked some interesting T20 match-ups. Here, we take a look at the key game plans and tactical thinkings that could play a role in the Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) game in CPL 2020. 

CPL 2020 Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) Game Plan 1

Can Zouks’ batting line-up come good?

Except for TKR, the batsmen of other teams have been averaging within 15-20 range and have a scoring rate of between six and seven. In fact, the Zouks batsmen have the second-best scoring rate after TKR in the competition. Thus, it is hard to argue that the Zouks batsmen have been below-par. And, more so, because the Zouks are not a star-studded team.

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However, against the current table-toppers, the Zouks might face trouble. In their playing XI in their previous game, they had just one southpaw in the top seven – Najibullah Zadran. 

Against left-arm orthodox spinners, leg-spinners and mystery spinners (Narine & Mujeeb), the Zouks batsmen have been averaging 13.46 and have a scoring rate of 6.08. In TKR’s last game, they had two left-arm orthodox spinners – Khary Pierre & Akeal Hosein, and a leg-spinner – Pravin Tambe. They also have Fawad Ahmed and a mystery spinner in Sunil Narine. Thus, they should add left-handers in their XI to add variety and tackle the mentioned bowlers. 

One of the left-handed batsmen in the Zouks’ squad is Mark Deyal who had been dropped in the last two games. Even though Deyal has got out against leg-spinners and left-arm orthodox spinners six out of nine in his CPL career, he doesn’t seem to have specific patterns of struggles against such types of bowling. Deyal is a very attacking batsman and mostly gets out while attempting attacking shots. 

Another southpaw in the Zouks’ squad is Javelle Glen. Even though Javelle is a batsman by trade, he has batted in the top five just once and at No. 8 four times (including last two games)  in his short CPL career of seven innings. The team management could consider promoting him according to match-ups. 

TKR have two left-arm orthodox spinners who bowl in the powerplay. The duo of Pierre and Hosein has been averaging 28.83 and have an economy of 6.5 in the powerplay in the CPL 2020 so far. The duo can cause trouble to Rahkeem Cornwall and Andre Fletcher. Among Cornwall’s last six dismissals – which have come against bowlers – four have been against the bowlers who turn the ball away from him. 

CPL 2020 Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) Game Plan 2

Can the Zouks get better in the death overs?

Lucia are not a great side in the death overs, be it batting or bowling. From 16th over onwards, they scored at 7.07 RPO – the worst in the competition. Their death overs woes are enhanced due to poor performance of Darren Sammy, the Zouks’ skipper. In seven innings in CPL 2020, the lower middle-order batsman has been averaging less than 3 with a batting strike rate of under 50. Calling these numbers terrible might be an understatement. 

Zouks’ best bet in the slog overs is Mohammad Nabi who has been scoring at a strike rate of close 150 from 16th over onwards. Nabi’s work will get easier if Ali Khan doesn’t play. Khan’s economy in the death overs has been 6.5. The other TKR pacers have an economy of 9.82 in this phase. Dwayne Bravo who has past his prime has done a decent job in the slog overs in the CPL 2020 so far. However, Nabi might not be an easy customer for him. In major T20s and T10 combined, the Afghani player has scored at over 11 RPO against Bravo. 

From 16th over onwards, with the ball, the Zouks’ pacers have conceded runs at an economy of 9.76. The Zouks’ pacers have also bowled the least number of deliveries in this phase. And, it will be a concern for them against TKR. TKR score at over 11.50 RPO in the mentioned phase – the best in the league. 

The Zouks would want Pollard to continue to take rest because of obvious reasons. However, if the TKR skipper plays, Chemar Holder and Scott Kuggeleijn might trouble him if they get their hard lengths right. Holder, in particular, has express pace and can bowl yorkers, so he might trouble the lower middle-order of TKR. However, a lot will depend on the execution of plans. 

CPL 2020 Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Zouks (TKR vs SLZ) Game Plan 3

Can TKR tackle the off-spin army?

In a tournament in which every other team is averaging under 20 and scoring at less than seven RPO, TKR batsmen are averaging 30.8 and scoring at a brisk rate of 7.62 RPO. It is hard to shut down their batting unit – at least one of their batsmen manages to step up when others fail. It will be a very tough task for the Zouks’ bowlers to stop the TKR batsmen. 

Besides using the resources well, the Zouks’ biggest strength has been their off-spinners. The off-spinners of the Darren Sammy-led team have been averaging 13.95 and have an economy of under five in the tourney so far. The off-spin bowling unit should take care of the southpaws in the TKR batting line-up. They can also trouble Lendl Simmons with their in-turners. 

However, if Colin Munro – who got retired hurt in the previous match – plays, things may get interesting. Munro, in general, seems to have issues against the balls turning away from him. However, against Nabi, the Zouks’ lead-spinner, Munro has scored 34 runs in 18 balls without getting dismissed. Thus, it will be interesting to see if the trend continues.  

If Sunil Narine plays, Chemar should target his shoulders with the new ball. In case the off-spinners fail to get Simmons out, the tall bowler can also trap Simmons as well, particularly if the ball moves.