CPL Qualifier 1 Preview | Final berth up for grabs as Guyana and St Lucia meet in top of table clash

‌Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Kings will look to progress to the final of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 in the first possible chance when they meet in the first qualifier in Guyana on Thursday. The Warriors will have an added advantage as the game is set to take place at the Providence Stadium, their home ground, with the losers getting another shot to make the summit clash in the second qualifier.

It will be a replay of last year’s final, with defending champions Kings having another good season to finish on top of the points table this season. They had 12 points, after the group proceedings, and the Warriors only being pushed to second due to an inferior net run rate. However, the Kings tasted defeat, by two wickets, in their last group game against the home side at the same venue.

The Warriors have dominated both the run and wicket charts in CPL this season with Shai Hope amassing 447 runs in 10 matches at an average of 55.87 and a strike rate of 132.24. With the ball, captain Imran Tahir has 18 scalps in 10 games with an impressive economy of 7.25 and picking up a wicket every 13.33 balls.

Meanwhile, Tim Seifert has been a revelation at the top of the Kings’ batting order with 338 runs from eight innings, averaging 48.28 at an impressive strike rate of 178.83. Left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has been the Kings’ top wicket-taker, third overall, picking up 14 wickets from eight innings with a miserly economy of 6.86 and a strike rate of 12.85.

Form Guide

GAW Form: WLLWW

SLK Form: WWWLL

GAW vs SLK head-to-head in CPL

The Warriors hold an edge in the head-to-head numbers with 16 wins in 28 matches in the CPL while the Kings have won 11 times with one match ending without a result. However, the visitors have a better record in the recent past winning three of the last five matches against the Warriors.

GAW 16 - 11 SLK

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at the Providence Stadium is expected to be flat with true bounce, assisting the pacers early on in the game. The pitch will get better for batting under lights, as the match progresses, with four of the six games played here this season being won by chasing sides.

It will be a cloudy night at Guyana with temperatures expected to be around 25 degrees. The viewers may get to witness uninterrupted action with chances of rain placed at 25%.

Team News

Guyana Amazon Warriors are expected to take the park with the same team while pacer Alzarri Joseph may replace Keon Gaston in the playing eleven, from the team which lost their last group game to the Warriors.

GAW Expected XI

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

SLK Expected XI

Tim Seifert (wk), Johnson Charles, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Tim David, Delano Potgieter, Aaron Jones, David Wiese (c), Khary Pierre, Alzarri Joseph, Tabraiz Shamsi

Broadcasting Platforms 

The GAW vs SLK CPL 2025 Qualifier 1 will be digitally streamed on the FanCode app and website in India, with live telecast on the Star Sports Network from 5:30 AM IST on Thursday.