SNP vs SLK 21st Match Prediction

SNP vs SLK Team Previews

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

The Patriots have not won a match in the 2023 CPL. With six losses and two no-results to their name, they are desperate to get on the board. Victory here, though, wouldn't even get them off the bottom of the points table. St Kitts have a long road ahead of them. They have all but been ruled out of play-off contention already.

Their most recent defeat was to the Barbados Royals. There were good signs for the Patriots, even if those pointers didn't bring victory. Will Smeed's arrival as Andre Fletcher's opening partner looks a promising prospect. The pair put on 115 for the first wicket to push St Kitts and Nevis to a 200-plus total.

With captain Sherfane Rutherford delivering runs in the middle order and all-rounders Benny Howell and Corbin Bosch at hand to go big through the closing stages of the innings, batting resources are not necessarily the problem for the Patriots. Rutherford and Fletcher are St Kitts and Nevis' leading run-scorers this CPL.

It's their bowling department that seems to be the most threatened. They might open the bowling with spinner George Linde again, but the ongoing decision to deploy fast bowler Vasbert Drakes as third or fourth change is perplexing. Drakes is the Patriots' joint-leading wicket-taker this season. Perhaps getting him into the attack earlier could really catapult his form.

St Lucia Kings

The Kings have three wins to show for their first six matches in this season's CPL. That collection includes two washouts. Their campaign has weathered a tricky start, but back-to-back victories - against Barbados and Trinbago Knight Riders - has them in a good position here.

Opener Johnson Charles impressed with a Player of the Match innings of 78 against the Royals recently. The Kings have Zimbabwean duo Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams in the middle order. Raza has taken over the captaincy after South African Faf du Plessis exited the tournament injured. It will be interesting to see if the additional responsibility limits or empowers Raza's roles with bat and ball.

While Johnson is closing in on 200 runs for the season, no other current player has even reached 100. Raza, Williams, New Zealand recruit Colin Munro and others need to start stepping up in support of Johnson if they are to genuinely contend for a play-off berth.

Bowling-wise, seamer Alzarri Joseph and spin duo Khary Pierre and Roston Chase continue to serve the Kings well. They have shared 21 wickets this season. Pierre and Chase have done particularly well in combination - and conditions in Tarouba could suit their partnership again.