TKR vs GAW Match Prediction & Betting Tips - Sep 24, 2023
Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders will play the 2023 Caribbean Premier League final. This is the sixth time Guyana have reached a CPL final - they remain in pursuit of a maiden title. Trinbago are in pursuit of a record fifth CPL title.
There has been plenty of opportunity to bet during the round-robin and play-off stage of the CPL. Now, with the two best teams of the 2023 tournament set to contest the final, let's see what the cricket odds and betting markets have in store for Guyana vs Trinbago.
Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders
Guyana have three victories to Trinbago's two in their last five meetings. The Amazon Warriors beat the Knight Riders three times in a row prior to this week's Qualifier 1, which Trinbago won.
Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders
Watch the Caribbean Premier league final on the FanCode app. It is available in India and a great way to stream live cricket online during the CPL.
TKR vs GAW Team Previews
Trinbago Knight Riders
Trinbago ended in second position in the 2023 points table before beating first-placed Guyana in the Qualifier 1 to secure direct passage to the final. The Knight Riders are the most successful team in the history of the tournament with four titles and are eager to consolidate that status with a fifth.
Spinners Waqar Salamkheil and Sunil Narine and seamer Andre Russell have been their top bowlers this season, sharing 32 wickets. Afghanistan recruit Salamkheil has been a solid partner in spin to Narine and, again, they could be a significant threat in combination here.
Batting-wise, opener Martin Guptill, middle-order batter Nicholas Pooran and captain Kieron Pollard have been at the fore of Trinbago's collective success with the bat. Opener Mark Deyal has also impressed alongside Pooran, Pollard and company - and could push for a T20I or ODI debut for West Indies based on his good form this CPL season.
As was the case in the Qualifier 1, the Knight Riders can look to not lose many wickets, if any, during the powerplay and capitalise after those opening six overs. If they bat first this time, the same approach is feasible, especially if the Amazon Warriors only deploy five bowlers again. Guyana, though, must find a sixth bowling option this time if leg-spinner Imran Tahir is not available again.
Trinbago Knight Riders Playing 11
Chadwick Walton, Mark Deyal, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, Ali Khan, Keacy Carty, Waqar Salamkheil.
Guyana Amazon Warriors
The pressure is once again on Guyana to finally win a CPL title. They're reached this stage of the tournament five times, but failed with each. A sixth final loss could be detrimental to the franchise overall. A maiden title could inspire them to more in the future.
Guyana still have the two leading run-scorers this CPL season. Opener Saim Ayub and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope have been prolific individually and collectively. Hope has 449 runs in 11 innings to Ayub's 426 in 12. Getting one, if not both, out cheaply will be key for the Knight Riders.
Tahir sustained an injury during the Qualifier 1. Whether he participates in this fixture remains in the balance. If he is ruled out, all-rounder Romario Shepherd will likely captain the XI again. Meanwhile, Trinbago are waiting on the match fitness of Narine. If he, too, is sidelined, this match will will be without two of the best bowlers in the tournament.
It will be interesting to see if the Warriors are faced with the task of successfully combating Trinbago all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. He was out of the Knight Riders XI for an extended period before returning for the Qualifer 1. If he stays in the XI, Guyana will be hard pressed against opposition all the more balanced for Bravo's inclusion.
Guyana Amazon Warriors Playing 11
Saim Ayub, Shai Hope, Azam Khan, Shimron Hetmyer, Dwaine Pretorius, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Imran Tahir, Ronsford Beaton.
TKR vs GAW Toss Prediction
Five of the nine CPL matches played in Providence this season have been won by the team batting second. The toss-winning captain here has opted to bat first only twice. This choice yielded victory once.
The team to win the toss this time will likely choose to bowl first. In such a significant fixture, especially in T20 cricket, it makes sense to get a feel for conditions with the ball and attempt to set the pace of the chase with the bat later.
Read our guide on toss predictions to learn how we analyze and come up with our tips.
Pitch and Conditions
A first-innings score of 180 should be competitive. While some teams have totalled as high as 200-plus at the Providence Stadium this season, others have failed to successfully defend 160-odd.
This is Guyana's homeground, so they might get a better read on conditions than Trinbago. It's well worth playing two specialist spinners in these conditions - and opening the bowling with one of them.
Weather-wise, plenty of rain is predicted before and on matchday. Hopefully, we'll get a full fixture in here regardless. If rain does shorten the match, this should also suit the team batting second.
TKR vs GAW Betting Tips
Trinbago advanced straight to the final. Their path has been relatively straightforward. Guyana had to battle through the latter half of the play-offs. Their advance to the final has been taxing. The Knight Riders have reached and won the CPL final four times. The Warriors have graduated to the final more times than Trinbago, but never won it.
The Knight Riders look in the strongest position to win the 2023 CPL final. They are priced as match favourites at 1.77 for good reason. Guyana are offered as 2.10 underdogs. Betting on them to finally win a Caribbean Premier League title could bring good value.
Bonus Cricket Bets
Pooran is Trinbago's highest run-scorer this season and fourth in the 2023 CPL overall. He has collected 290 in nine innings - and struck a century against Barbados Royals. He is a good selection to be Trinbago's top batter in the CPL final.
Pretorius is the joint-leading wicket-taker in the CPL this season. The South African seamer has succeeded with clever variations in pace, line and length to collect 16 wickets in a dozen matches. Especially if Tahir doesn't play, Pretorius is in a good position to be Guyana's top bowler in the CPL final.
Russell has been in fine form with bat and ball throughout the 2023 CPL season. All-rounders make for good Player of the Match selections, as they can succeed with bat and ball. Russell is a good pick here. He might even be in contention for the Player of the Tournament award.
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.