SLK vs BR Match Prediction & Betting Tips - Aug 17, 2023
The St Lucia Kings and Barbados Royals will contest the second match of the 2023 Caribbean Premier League. Barbados have been CPL champions twice, while St Lucia remain in pursuit of a maiden title. The Kings lost to the Jamaica Tallawahs in the tournament opener 24 hours prior to this match.
Plenty of players capped by the West Indies in international cricket will be in action - and this should be a really intriguing fixture. Let's see what betting odds and markets are in store for this match.
St Lucia Kings vs Barbados Royals head-to-head record
Barbados have won all of there last three meeting with St Lucia. That's a dominant recent record that the Kings will be well challenged to overcome.
St Lucia Kings vs Barbados Royals live streaming and broadcast
This match can be live streamed on the FanCode app. This is a great way to access coverage of the Caribbean Premier League online.
SLK vs BR Team Previews
St Lucia Kings
The Kings have boosted their resources with the arrival of Scotland fast bowler Chris Sole and Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Williams. Sole's extra pace could trouble the opposition batters, especially on a Gros Islet pitch that should be relatively fresh with additional bounce.
Williams was in remarkable form with the bat during the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe earlier this year and will enter the CPL after reaching the play-off stage of the inaugural Zim Afro T10 with Cape Town Samp Army. Williams could also prove handy with the ball, given his threatening left-arm spin.
The presence of Faf du Plessis is a significant boost for St Lucia, too. He didn't do well for the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket in the United States of America recently, but his years of experience in the Indian Premier League and other major T20 tournaments should bring plenty of value.
St Lucia Kings Playing 11
Faf du Plessis, Johnson Charles, Sean Williams, Roston Chase, Sikandar Raza, Roshon Primus, Matthew Forde, Sadrack Descartes, Khary Pierre, Chris Sole, Alzarri Joseph.
Barbados Royals
Batter Laurie Evans from England and Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad have joined the Royals squad. Evans is effectively a replacement for South African batsman Rassie van der Dussen, who withdrew recently. The blow of van der Dussen's absence has been softened by the recruitment of the enterprising Evans.
Leg-spinners have had a lot of success in domestic T20 cricket. Rashid Khan is the shining light in this example, but fellow Afghanistan international Ahmad offers plenty of promise. He'll need to offer several variations against an opposition batting order that will look to capitalise against predictability.
The Royals also have Jason Holder. The former West Indies captain did not get to bat much in the recent T20I series against India, but remained characteristically on point with the ball throughout. He will likely be deployed with the ball inside the opening powerplay and through the closing throes of the innings.
Barbados Royals Playing 11
Rovman Powell, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Donovan Ferreira, Rahkeem Cornwall, Justin Greaves, Kevin Omar Wickham, Obed McCoy, Qais Ahmad, Nyeem Young, Joshua Bishop.
SLK vs BR Toss Prediction
Five out of eight CPL matches played in Gros Islet last season were won by the team batting second. The captain to win the toss here will likely opt to bowl first and chase a target later. There is enough recent evidence to show the result at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium won't be heavily influenced by the toss.
Read our guide on toss predictions to learn how we analyze and come up with our tips.
Pitch and Conditions
The average total for the team batting first in Gros Islet during the 2022 CPL was 160-odd. This is not overtly a high-scoring venue. The last time a T20I was played here, spin accounted for 17 of the 40 overs. This will be the second of six CPL matches in Gros Islet this season. The pace bowlers will want to take advantage while there is early life in the deck. Some rain is predicted in St Lucia on matchday, but potentially not enough to shorten the innings.
SLK vs BR Betting Tips
The Barbados Royals should beat the St Lucia Kings. Barbados have beaten the Kings three times in a row. The Royals' outright odds of 1.77 are a stronger option than St Lucia's 2.05. The last time the underdogs beat the favourites for this match was back in 2021, when wet weather influenced the result.
Bonus Cricket Bets
From Johnson Charles and Roston Chase to Roshon Primus and Sikandar Raza, St Lucia's batting order is brimming with potential. Charles was the third-highest run-scorer in last year's CPL with 345 in nine innings. St Lucia also have Sean Williams and Faf du Plessis.
Seamers Jason Holder, Ramon Simmonds and Kyle Mayers typifies Barbados' threat with the ball. Holder was the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the 2022 CPL with 17 in 12 innings. Spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Qais Ahmad could be prolific wicket-takers in suitable conditions.
Last season's CPL yielded three centuries. One was scored by Kings star Faf du Plesiss, who will likely play in this match. The pitch should be fresh and full of runs. Batters Rahkeem Cornwall and Johnson Charles fell just short of CPL centuries last year. They might play in this match, too.
Who will win SLK vs BR
Powered by
Match Predictions
Cricket Betting Tips
- Highest opening partnership - India W (1.55) and 1 more BANW vs INDW betting tip
- Total runs in the highest scoring over of the match - Over 22.5 (1.95) and 2 more MI vs SRH betting tips
- Nazmul Hossain Shanto to become the top batter. - 4.10 and 3 more BAN vs ZIM betting tips
- Delhi Capitals to win the toss - 1.90 and 4 more DC vs RR betting tips
We are eager to know what you think of our match predictions, if there is anything we can do better or if you want to let us know your own predictions for the match.