Jamaica Kingsmen v Antigua & Barbuda Falcons CPL Final Tips: Falcons to finish the job

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Monday 21 September, 00:00
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Jamaica Kingsmen v Antigua & Barbuda Falcons CPL Final team news

Falcons will argue, fairly, they're the best team in this. They beat Guyana Amazon Warriors twice across the season and will expect to land their first title with a well-balanced XI.

Rahkeem Cornwall's return to the opening slot has given them some much-needed firepower while Evin Lewis appears to be striking it well. The key is Shadab Khan, who is the fulcrum. Hitting and spin from him means they are never out of the game.

His partnership with fellow spinner Sufiyan Muqeem destroyed Guyana with eight wickets apiece.

Probable XI: Cornwall, Lewis, Jangoo, Hasan Nawaz, Moeen, Shadab, Allen, Jospeh, Shamar, James, Sufiyan

Kingsmen, in their first season, have come from nowhere to mount an unlikely title challenge. They qualified by the skin of their teeth on net run rate having lost three of their last five. They had also lost their first three and were under major pressure throughout.

But the play-offs have brought the best out of them. They rolled Tridents for 144 and then blitzed the chase with Maaz Sadaqat hitting an extraordinary ton. Sadaqat was at it again in a stiff chase of 206 against Warriors. He hit 41 from 17. Rovman Powell then finished the job.

Peculiarly for matches on a turning rack they are not blessed with an abundance of spin talent. Vitel Lawes doesn't often bowl his full quota while Sami Ayub is used to tweak.

Possible XI: Sadaqat, McKenzie, Carty, Ayub, Powell, Russell, Hassan, Morris, Paul, Lawes, Hunain

Jamaica Kingsmen v Antigua & Barbuda Falcons CPL Final pitch report

We're not sure whether a fresh, completely unused pitch has been set aside for the final. It would make sense but throughout the tournament the square has offered assistance and grip to spin bowlers with batters struggling.

Guyana busting 200 in the previous game was an outlier. In the eight matches so far, the highest first-innings score after the Guyana blitz has been 150.

It has been a consistent strategy to get short of runs and although that didn't pay off in the final qualifier, the result is an overreaction on the runs line. Betfair Sportsbook offer under 171.5 and that is one we have to take on at 5/61.84.

There is a bit of rain around in Bridgetown, too, which could bring the pacers into play as well.

Jamaica Kingsmen v Antigua & Barbuda Falcons CPL Final prediction

Whatever happens in the final, the CPL with a new champion. For only the third time in its history the final will not be contested by one of Trinbago or Warriors. It is mighty refreshing, particularly if you followed this column's advice and backed Falcons at the outset at chunky numbers.

Falcons are the favourites and that is right. There is a chunk of evidence that they are the better team. They finished second in the league, boast a vastly superior net run rate and have a better balance.

This also pitches the best bowling team in terms of economy against the fastest runscorers, a consistent trend for franchise finals of late it seems. We always favour the bowling side to get the job done. That is Falcons. The 4/51.80 is available with Betfair Sportsbook and Betfair Exchange.

Jamaica Kingsmen v Antigua & Barbuda Falcons CPL Final player tips

Given Sadaqat's extraordinary form it is quite surprising not to see him priced as a skinny favourite for top Kingsmen bat. Instead he shares honours with Usman Khan for some reason. Usman has not matched Maaz in anyway shape or form this term.

We don't like to 'follow the runs' so to speak usually but it's clear that the 16/54.20 should be much shorter given how well he is hitting it on this very surface.

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