2013 CLT20 Semi-Final 2: Giant Killers Trinidad and Tobago raring to go against Mumbai Indians

Trinidad and Tobago:

Recent Form: WWLWW

Possible Playing XI: Lendl Simmons, Ewin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Yannick Ottley, Denesh Ramdin (captain and wk), Nicholas Pooran, Navin Stewart, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Rayad Emrit, Samuel Badree.

Since the finals of inaugural Champions League T20 against New South Wales Blues in 2009, Trinidad & Tobago failed to reach the knockouts for another time. This time around, they entered the semi finals as table toppers from group B after beating Chennai Super Kings. The players will be high on confidence and are raring to go to earn a spot in the finals.

Bowling has been their key strength and their bowlers will look dominate Mumbai batsmen. The bowling department is led by Ravi Rampaul who is lethal with the new ball.

He along with Samuel Badree controls the run flow in the power play overs and set the stage for their mystery spinner Sunil Narine to apply pressure on the batsman to go after him which could be fatal for the batsman.

Lendl Simmons has been doing well as a bowler and will look to continue the good form with the ball in his hand. The form of Rayad Emrit has been a worry for Ramdin and his team. He has been leaking runs in the tournament and that hurts the team badly.

Their batting line up too looks settled with Lendl Simmons getting into the groove against Chennai Super Kings. His opening partner Ewin Lewis looks to go after the bowling from the first ball of his innings.

The responsibility of carrying the team forward lie in the broad shoulders of Brian Lara’s Xerox copy Darren”Lil” Bravo. He is in great form and has scored two consecutive fifties in the tournament. Navin Stewart uses the long handle effectively in the slog overs. Ramdin and the tailenders are also chipping in with some quick 20’s.

Promising Nicholas Pooran, who was considered as the next big thing in West Indian cricket before the tournament began has not proved his worth yet. He is in due for a big knock. With Kotla being a small ground, it cannot get better for Pooran to show the world what he is capable of.

Trinidad and Tobago will look to get past the Mumbai Indians and look to emulate their best performance in a CLT20.

With Rajasthan Royals booking their place in the finals, will the result of the second semifinals come in favour of an all Indian finals? Or will T&T continue their giant killing spree in the CLT20’s?