MATCH: New South Wales v Trinidad and Tobago
DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 2011
TIME: 1600 hours IST (1030 hours GMT)
VENUE: M Chidambaram in Chennai
In a Group A game of the Champions League T20 2011, New South Wales will take on Trinidad and Tobago in a bid to record their first win of the competition.
Past Record:
The two sides, New South Wales and Trinidad and Tobago go into the game with a loss apiece. The Blues were hammered by the Cobras in their opening encounter when Herschelle Gibbs and Levi blasted their bowlers to all parts of the ground. On the other hand, Trinidad and Tobago lost a close game to Mumbai Indians after being bowled out for 98.
The two sides have played two games earlier in a Champions League T20 tournament and both have won one. Kieron Pollard led Trinidad and Tobago to a stunning win in the group stages of the CLT20 in 2009 before the Blues beat the West Indian representation in the final of that same edition.
Side-effect:
The Group A has the potential to be closely contested and the reason for that is that the weakest side on paper, Mumbai Indians, have notched up two fortunate wins in as many games. Cobras have won their opening game as well. This puts the pressure solely on the remaining three sides in the group, including these two, Trinidad and Tobago (8/13 at
SkyBet) and the New South Wales (5/4 at
SkyBet). A loss here would almost spell doomsday for the side going down.
Team News:
New South Wales have a strong-looking side but their batting clearly looked a tad nervous in the first game. The openers offered three chances to the fielders before perishing off the fourth one and the rest of the side failed to make good the start.
Shane Watson will continue to hold the key and needs to do a role that Jacques Kallis does – bat through most part of the innings before going after the bowling. On the other hand, Dave Warner also could do well to respect the conditions before he attempts to bat in the manner he usually does on more receptive pitches back home.
Trinidad and Tobago did a fine job of containment against Mumbai Indians while defending 98, but it must be said that their batting reeked of panic. The thought process seemed to border on being preset and the failure to adapt to the changed pitch conditions bowled them over.
The shots that some of the players including Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo and captain Daren Ganga played could well be locked in a closet before they take on the Blues in this vital match.
Who is hot?
One wonders why aren’t the likes of Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree in the West Indian side – more so when they are playing at home where the pitches assist the slower bowling these days. The pair has bowled with utmost aplomb as can be envisioned from the fact that they haven’t allowed the batsmen to score off them – and they have picked wickets.
The Blues did not pick Stuart Clark for the first game but on such a track, he may be worth a punt.
Prediction:
Trinidad and Tobago to win another hard-fought encounter here.
