The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

CPL's fiercest rivalry TKR vs GAW

sgtdjones 9/20/25, 9:11:46 PM
sgtdjones avatar image

debut: 2/15/17
41,080 runs

CPL's fiercest rivalry resumes as Knight Riders and Amazon Warriors meet in title clash

Both teams have a potent spin attack, with Tahir, Moeen and Motie in Amazon Warriors, and Narine, Tariq and Hosein in TKR.Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR). Another chapter will be added to the CPL's fiercest rivalry when the two teams face each other at Providence in Sunday's final.Former Amazon Warrior Nicholas Pooran is in his first season as TKR captain, leading their push for the title, with 425 runs in 12 innings. He has been peaking at the crunch, with scores of 90* and 50 in the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, respectively.Amazon Warriors and TKR have met in two finals previously. In 2018, in Tarouba, under Dwayne Bravo's captaincy, TKR had outplayed Amazon Warriors, with Bravo later coming out and suggesting a video of Guyanese fans trampling on a Trinidad & Tobago flag was extra motivation for TKR to beat Amazon Warriors.

Five years later, Amazon Warriors demolished TKR at Providence under Imran Tahir to win their maiden title. Bravo is no longer an active player; he has taken over as TKR's head coach, while Tahir, 46, continues to light up the CPL with his variations and celebrations. Tahir has formed a potent spin combination with Moeen Ali and Gudakesh Motie, the supremely talented left-arm fingerspinner who can also bowl left-arm wristspin to left-hand batters. Having also won the Global Super League (GSL) earlier this year, Amazon Warriors will be hungry to add another title to their cabinet this year.TKR also have a deadly spin attack, with Pakistani mystery spinner Usman Tariq providing a point of difference to their bowling. Sunil Narine and his protege Akeal Hosein need no introduction to the region. The battle between the two spin attacks could have a big influence on the result.
While TKR face a quick turnaround on Sunday, having just played Qualifier 2 on Friday, Amazon Warriors head into the final on the back of a three-day break.
- edited -
sgtdjones 9/20/25, 9:12:53 PM
sgtdjones avatar image

debut: 2/15/17
41,080 runs

Team news: Amir, Shamar Joseph injured

There is no reason for Amazon Warriors to tweak their XI, unless Shamar Joseph is fit and ready. If that's the case, he might replace Hassan Khan. Dwaine Pretorius is also nursing a niggle, but Amazon Warriors head coach Lance Klusener expects him to be "fine" for the final.

Guyana Amazon Warriors (probable): 1 Ben McDermott, 2 Quentin Sampson, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Shamarh Brooks, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Dwaine Pretorius, 9 Hassan Khan/Shamar Joseph 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Imran Tahir (capt)

Ahead of the playoffs, Pooran suggested that Mohammad Amir is still injured and is facing a race against time to regain fitness for the knockouts. The Pakistani left-arm quick has not played since September 1, so if he remains unavailable, expect USA's Saurabh Netravalkar to get another game as Amir's like-for-like replacement.

Trinbago Knight Riders (probable): 1 Alex Hales, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Nicholas Pooran (capt & wk), 4 Keacy Carty, 5 Darren Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Saurabh Netravalkar, 11 Usman Tariq
- edited -
sgtdjones 9/20/25, 9:14:18 PM
sgtdjones avatar image

debut: 2/15/17
41,080 runs

Quotes

"Look, it's a great feeling to be in the final in front of our home crowd. Playing in Guyana is something very special. We have been up and down this season, but always a good feeling, and to be a champion, we need to be very hungry."
Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir

"It's really important to come together in a tournament like this, especially with the type of players we have in our team. The last couple of years has been challenging for us, and especially here in Guyana, it hasn't been on our side. But this group has been really amazing.
TKR captain Nicholas Pooran
InHindsight 9/21/25, 12:17:00 PM
InHindsight avatar image

debut: 2/23/07
12,629 runs

In reply to sgtdjones

I think Ottis Gibson had a big part to play is TKR's victory over the Kings in thr qualifiers. Still I back GAW to take them down. Lol
sgtdjones 9/21/25, 1:16:06 PM
sgtdjones avatar image

debut: 2/15/17
41,080 runs

In reply to InHindsight

Pooooooooooooo will lead todaycool

Listen here you ...TKR blew up the Pittons...lol

Now we gonna drain the Essequibo and make it into a canal. cool
- edited -
googley 9/21/25, 1:28:32 PM
googley avatar image

debut: 2/8/04
24,060 runs

In reply to sgtdjones

Now we gonna drain the Essequibo and make it into a canal.


Drain to where? TnT will flood
BeatDball 9/21/25, 1:41:18 PM
BeatDball avatar image

debut: 7/19/14
16,788 runs

In reply to googley GT being 42 times TnT - it can happen! big grin
- edited -
BeatDball 9/21/25, 2:30:40 PM
BeatDball avatar image

debut: 7/19/14
16,788 runs

Ok ok Sgt... I will make you feel good, as with the other Windian folks who will jealously whine, 'steups, Guyana's mostly jungle!'
natty_forever 9/21/25, 4:38:11 PM
natty_forever avatar image

debut: 4/27/03
61,271 runs

In reply to InHindsight

I have said it before, if Otis had the same power as Sammy, he would have shown better results.
sgtdjones 9/21/25, 6:50:44 PM
sgtdjones avatar image

debut: 2/15/17
41,080 runs

In reply to BeatDball

Say what? Jungle is good....

See dem tarzan women in the jungle ...I am all fer dat?cool