Both the teams have qualified for playoffs, and the result of the clash will not affect their fixtures for the next round. While the Zouks will play Trinbago Knight Riders in the Eliminator, the Tallawahs are scheduled to take on Guyana Amazon Warriors in Qualifier 1. A win for the Chris Gayle-led side will push them to top of the points table, and a result favourable for Zouks will cement Darren Sammy's team at the number three position.
The Zouks, who are on an upward swing following a run of five wins in six matches after three consecutive defeats, managed to upset Tallawahs with a thumping 63-run win when the two sides met each other on Saturday. Led by quickfire half-centuries by Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher, they managed to post 206, before a disciplined bowling attack restricted the Tallawahs to 143.
The batting and bowling has come together well for the Zouks - a team that has perpetually languished at the bottom of the points table through all the seasons of CPL - since their home leg began. Fletcher, who was their only weak-link in the batting, came out of a poor run of form with a match-winning knock of 74 against Tallawahs.
Shane Watson and Sammy have done justice to their all-round skills and allowed Zouks to play to their potential. While Charles's good form at the top of the order and Sammy's late-order surges have covered up for the misfiring likes of David Miller and Michael Hussey, the duo's experience could hold them in good stead during the final stages of the tournament.
Tallawahs wouldn't read much into the defeat against Zouks, which came at the back of their five-match unbeaten streak. They continue to remain the most dominant side in the tournament.
Apart from the usual stars - Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara, Shakib Al Hasan and Andre Russell - they've also had their domestic players putting up a good show regularly. While Chadwick Walton has been consistent, Rovman Powell, Alex Ross and Timroy Allen too have had good days.
There might be a few changes to their line-up with Dale Steyn, possibly, coming in to beef up the bowling. Grant Elliot, who hasn't had much to do with either bat or ball, could make way for the South African pacer.
As the USA leg of CPL 2016 comes to an end, a strong side taking on a team in form in the last league match offers an exciting prospect for the crowds in Florida.
What: Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Lucia Zouks, 30th Match
When: July 31, 4:00 PM local time (August 1, 1:30 am IST).
Where: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Florida.
What they said:
"It's good to see that I can contribute and bat long. Happy to know that we are in the semi-finals and will hope to make the finals. We've been working very hard," Andre Fletcher, St Lucia Zouks opener, said after his match-winning 74 against Jamaica Tallawahs
"When you get 10 days off of cricket, this is what happens and you get rusty. Hopefully we can get a win tomorrow," Chris Gayle, Jamaica Talllwahs skipper, said after the loss against St Lucia Zouks.
Squads:
Jamaica Tallawahs: Chadwick Walton, Chris Gayle (c), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Rovman Powell, Alex Ross, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Imad Wasim, Timroy Allen, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Kesrick Williams, Dale Steyn, Garey Mathurin, Jonathan Foo, Andre McCarthy, Oshane Thomas, Nkrumah Bonner, Dale Steyn, Garey Mathurin, Jonathan Foo, Andre McCarthy, Oshane Thomas, Nkrumah Bonner
St Lucia Zouks: Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (wk), Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, David Miller, Grant Elliott, Gidron Pope, Darren Sammy (c), Delorn Johnson, Shane Shillingford, Jerome Taylor, Kyle Mayers, Keddy Lesporis, Derone Davis, Keron Cottoy, Nitish Kumar, Kristopher Ramsaran
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