Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders, 34th and final match, CPL 2025

Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW):
Ben McDermott, Quentin Sampson, Shai Hope (wk), Shamarh Brooks, Shimron Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Romario Shepherd, Dwaine Pretorius, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Imran Tahir (c)

Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR):
Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Nicholas Pooran (c & wk), Keacy Carty, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, Saurabh Netravalkar, Usman Tariq

🎯 Key Player Matchups

• Shai Hope (GAW) vs Sunil Narine (TKR): Hope’s calm, anchor-style batting will be tested by Narine’s mystery spin. If Narine removes Hope early, TKR gains a huge advantage.
• Shimron Hetmyer (GAW) vs Andre Russell (TKR): Hetmyer’s aggressive stroke play against Russell’s pace and variations at the death will be a decisive contest.
• Nicholas Pooran (TKR) vs Imran Tahir (GAW): The TKR skipper is a fearless hitter of spin, but Tahir’s guile and experience at Providence make this a blockbuster matchup.
• Kieron Pollard (TKR) vs Romario Shepherd (GAW): Pollard’s finishing power meets Shepherd’s death-over skills – a classic power-hitter vs yorker specialist battle.

⚡ Impact Players

• Shai Hope (GAW): Guyana’s batting pillar. If he plays deep into the innings, GAW will be hard to stop.
• Romario Shepherd (GAW): All-round game-changer with explosive late hitting and wicket-taking ability at the death.
• Imran Tahir (GAW): The captain and strike bowler, his spin threat in middle overs could dismantle TKR’s batting.
• Nicholas Pooran (TKR): Aggressive leader and batting mainstay, capable of taking the game away in a few overs.
• Andre Russell (TKR): The ultimate impact player – destructive with the bat and dangerous with the ball.
• Sunil Narine (TKR): Key to controlling GAW’s batting in the middle overs while also providing pinch-hitting power.

🏟️ Providence Stadium (Guyana) – Pitch Report
The surface at Providence Stadium is traditionally slow and spin-friendly, especially in the middle overs. Quality spinners like Imran Tahir, Gudakesh Motie, and Sunil Narine are expected to dominate, as the ball grips and turns. Stroke-making becomes tougher as the innings progresses, making partnerships crucial.

Pacers may find early bounce and seam movement with the new ball, but assistance fades quickly, pushing them to rely on variations at the death. Batting generally gets harder in the second innings when the pitch slows down, so teams prefer to set a target.

A par score batting first is around 160–170, but with explosive hitters like Hetmyer, Russell, and Pollard in action, totals could push beyond 175 if the powerplay is maximized.

🌦️ Weather Conditions & Forecast

• Date: September 22, 2025
• Temperature: Around 31–32°C in the evening, dipping to 25–26°C overnight.
• Humidity: High, which could favor swing early and test player fitness.
• Rain Forecast: Light showers possible, but no major interruptions expected.
• Cloud Cover: Moderate in the evening, aiding seamers in the first few overs.
• Wind: Gentle breeze (10–15 km/h), offering slight movement for pacers.

👉 Overall Insight: Expect a slow, spin-dominated surface with dew potentially easing batting later on. The toss-winning captain is likely to bowl first to take advantage of dew and chasing comfort.

📌 Must-Have Picks

• Shai Hope (GAW): Consistent run-getter and anchor, also provides wicketkeeper points.
• Romario Shepherd (GAW): Offers dual value with late hitting and death bowling.
• Imran Tahir (GAW): Proven wicket-taker, thrives on Providence’s spin-friendly surface.
• Nicholas Pooran (TKR): Aggressive skipper and wicketkeeper-batter, capable of massive fantasy hauls.
• Andre Russell (TKR): Explosive all-rounder who can contribute big in both departments.

👑 Captain Choices

• Shai Hope (GAW): Safe pick, likely to bat deep and collect steady fantasy points.
• Romario Shepherd (GAW): Balanced option with high-impact potential as both finisher and wicket-taker.

⭐ Vice-Captain Choices

• Imran Tahir (GAW): Strong VC pick, expected to strike in middle overs with control.
• Nicholas Pooran (TKR): High-upside choice, especially if he fires in a high-pressure final.

⚡ Risky Punt Pick

• Keacy Carty (TKR): Often overlooked, but a player who can stabilize innings and chip in with valuable fantasy points in case of a top-order collapse.