Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Lucia Kings CPL Final Showdown: Toss Crucial in Deciding Fate

Guyana Amazon Warriors topped the table but faltered with a lackluster performance in their final game against Trinbago, a dead rubber. They experimented with their lineup, replacing Azam Khan with Kevlon Anderson as the opener. However, Azam is expected to return for the final.

Probable XI: Gurbaz, Azam Khan, Hope, Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Shepherd, Reifer, Motie, Paul, Pretorius, Shamar, Tahir.

St Lucia Kings have remained consistent with their lineup and were in strong form with five consecutive wins before losing to Guyana in their last group match. Their batting heavily depends on openers Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles, while Aaron Jones continues to hold his place over Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the middle order.

Probable XI: Du Plessis, Charles, Auguste, Chase, Jones, Seifert, Wiese, Descarte, Joseph, Pierre, Noor Ahmad.

Pitch Report

In the eliminator against the Royals, Trinbago were on track for a high total before rain disrupted the game. Guyana may opt for the same pitch that saw four scores below 165.5 in previous matches. Look out for the pitch report and commentary updates before the game starts, as betting against high scores might be a smart strategy. Markets offering odds for no fifty at 4/1 and under 15.5 sixes at 8/11 are also tempting, given recent trends on this surface.

Match Prediction

Guyana Amazon Warriors have the upper hand, having won both head-to-head encounters this season. Their impressive home win rate of nearly 72% also justifies their status as favorites with odds of 1.73.

However, St Lucia Kings should not be underestimated. They are a well-rounded team, and when it comes to net run rates, there’s little to separate the two sides. Guyana holds a slight edge with the bat (0.2), while the Kings lead with the ball (0.1).

The toss could play a significant role, as teams defending have had an advantage. If the Kings win the toss and bat first, they could potentially tilt the odds. In such a closely contested match, backing a tie at 34.0 for a small stake could prove fruitful. The weather forecast looks clear, with no rain interruptions expected.

The winner of this match goes directly to the final, while the loser will face Barbados Royals in the final eliminator.

Player Bets

Azam Khan, if reinstated as an opener, presents value at 4/1 for top Guyana Amazon Warriors batter. Moeen Ali could also shine, with his all-round capabilities perfectly suited to the conditions. His odds of 12/1 for Man of the Match could attract attention.