By Avenash Ramzan in Trinidad in association with:
The most important day in Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018 beckons and two form teams are set to lock horns for the title of T20 champions of the region.
Will Trinbago Knight Riders successfully defend their title and lift the trophy for a third time, or will Guyana Amazon Warriors finally break the title jinx on their fourth trip to the championship game?
The answer lies in what transpires over three hours of anticipated intense rivalry between two of the Caribbean’s most decorated cricket nations and longtime perennial foes.
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad, is the battle ground and from all indications, a capacity crowd is expected. A large number of Guyanese arrived on the island this weekend, and word is that thousands of Guyana Amazon Warriors flags would be waving around the Stadium.
Chris Green, the Warriors captain, said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain: “It’s really exciting; we’re very privileged to have this opportunity to compete in a final. As I said everyone in our squad is really excited. Everyone back home in Guyana has been really supportive throughout the tournament and we know how much our success means to them, but at the same time it’s just another game of cricket where we get an opportunity to spend one last game together.”
He added, “From my side and all the players side as well we’re really looking forward to one last opportunity to have fun, and if all goes our way and all goes our way then we get to hold the trophy up at the end of the night. We know it’s going to be a tough clash and we expect a really exciting atmosphere at the ground.”
This is the fourth time Warriors and Knight Riders would be facing off this tournament. Knight Riders won the first contest- a home game at Queen’s Park Oval, before the Warriors rebounded to win at Providence in their final group game, and then won Qualifier One to earn an automatic spot in Sunday’s final.
“Trinidad has been the form team all competition and I think it’s really exciting in the final to have them a part of it, obviously having that home fans would make the atmosphere at the ground really exciting and that’s really all you ask for in a final.”
Knight Riders captain Dwayne Bravo said: “The two best teams remain and the fans would get a very good cricket game. For us it’s nothing about preparation; we played last night and it was a good win which is good for us, and we just want to take the momentum into the game tomorrow.”
“Well in Trinidad we always get a lot of support; our fans always come and show their love for us, so it always helps and yes we know how it felt playing in Guyana when the support was on the other side, but it’s good to have crowds involved in the game and especially here in Trinidad where the people are passionate about the game and about the team TKR.”
The day/night contest will bowl off at 17:00h.
