For long, Darren Sammy's role in most teams has come under the radar for what value he brings to the side. Is he a bowler who can bat or a batsman who can bowl? If he is a bits-and-pieces batsman and bowler, how much does he end up contributing to a team? However, all the questions tend to go out of the window when his side plays in Gros Islet, where the stadium has been rechristened as the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium after he led West Indies to the World T20 win for the second time earlier in the year.
After decimating St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with the bat, he showed off his prowess with the ball against Barbados Tridents to help St Lucia Zouks to their second win in as many home games of this year's Caribbean Premier League. The more interesting aspect about his show with the ball was that he managed to dismiss Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik off a dipping full toss and a long-hop respectively - the kind of deliveries that would normally go sailing over the boundary ropes. Is Sammy good? Not sure. Has he been lucky? Yes. He has been riding on luck, and so has his team as they refresh their CPL 2016 campaign.
While the Zouks skipper has stolen the limelight in his hometown with two Man of the Match performances, it has also allowed the out-of-form players to get their mojo back. While his batting against Patriots hid an otherwise below-par show from the Zouks batsmen, the bowlers stood tall. Against Tridents, when his three-wicket haul had restricted the opposition to a modest total, it gave a chance for the opening duo of Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher to get some runs - which they did.
What his run of luck, combined with a few other factors, has done is that it has helped St Lucia Zouks to consecutive wins, coming at the back of three straight defeats. With three wins in six matches, it has also placed them in a strong position to secure a place in the playoffs for the first time in four editions. They are still placed fifth on the points table, but Trinbago have played an additional match, while Tridents have played two more - with as many wins to their credit.
With two wins in as many home matches, the challenge for Zouks to maintain their winning streak rises as they take on one of the most consistent sides in the tournament history - Guyana Amazon Warriors - on Sunday (July 24). Having won five out of seven matches in CPL 2016, they are placed second on the points table, behind Jamaica Tallawahs.
While Zouks will be without the South African duo of David Miller and Morne Morkel, Amazon Warriors will be without the services of Martin Guptill, who led the side for the first seven games, as he had to join the New Zealand squad for the Test series against Zimbabwe. He has been replaced with Australia's Nic Maddinson, while Rayad Emrit will have to take over the leadership responsibility.
The last time the two sides played against each other, earlier in the season, Amazon Warriors managed to cruise to a comfortable win at the back of a dominating all-round show.
However, having not played for nine days, Guyana could have lost a bit of rhythm going into the context, quite contradictory to that of the hosts - who are coming into the match at the back of back-to-back wins. At the same time, the nine-day break could also have its own merits, with players getting enough time to refresh and revitalise - a factor that could work against the Zouks.
When: St Lucia Zouks vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, 23rd Match, July 24, 5:00 PM local
Where: Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
What they said:
I am delighted and extremely honoured to be given this opportunity to lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors team for the rest of the tournament. Martin did a fantastic job and I just want to continue in that vein by leading the team to more victories and consolidating our position on top of the table. I want to thank the franchise owner and management for having the faith in me to lead such a great group of players and our aim is to go all the way. - Rayad Emrit, Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper.
"We always look forward to come home. To come here (Gros Islet) and put up two good performances is pleasing. It is a bit frustrating to lose the South Africans, Miller and Morkel. But it's an opportunity for others who are waiting. We'll take the bull by the horns again. I think the groundsman here is very good and we assess the conditions and then act on it. I urge the St. Lucians to come out and support us tomorrow,"
Darren Sammy, St Lucia Zouks skipper.
Squads:
St Lucia Zouks: Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (wk), Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, David Miller, Darren Sammy (c), Delorn Johnson, Keddy Lesporis, Shane Shillingford, Jerome Taylor, Morne Morkel, Derone Davis, Eddie Leie, Kyle Mayers, Nitish Kumar, Gidron Pope, Kristopher Ramsaran, Grant Elliott
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Sohail Tanvir, Nic Maddinson, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn (vice captain), Rayad Emrit (captain), Adam Zampa, Devendra Bishoo, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer
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