It will be a clash of the titans at Sabina Park today as Andre Russell’s Jamaica Tallawahs will lock horns with the Chris Gayle-led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in match eight of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 tournament.

With both teams possessing equal amount of quality within the batting department, fans are certainly expected to be excited by what should be an explosive clash between two of the formats most destructive batsmen.

First ball is 6:00 pm.

Both Russell and Gayle are already banging in form with the Tallawahs captain coming up trumps in their first game with a blistering century against Trinbago Knight Riders, while his counterpart has so far scored 86 and 35 in a victory and a loss for the Patriots.

This will be the final of two home games for the Jamaican franchise, which went into yesterday evening’s first game at Sabina Park against St Lucia Stars in fourth place on two points. The remaining home games will be played in Lauderhill, Florida.

The Tallawahs Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jefferson Miller explained the reason behind the decision to host only two games at Sabina Park.

“I have heard a lot of things, but I just want people to know that we will always be Jamaica Tallawahs and we will always play games in Jamaica. I live in Lauderhill and there are a lot of Jamaicans in Lauderhill, so we are just given them the opportunity to see the Jamaica Tallawahs in action.

“That is the only reason we are playing games in Lauderhill and no other reason. So keep supporting the Jamaica Tallawahs,” Miller shared during the Tallawahs reception at Broken Plate on Canberra Crescent on Monday.

The two-time CPL champions came to Jamaica hoping to build on their impressive start to the 2018 campaign following a four-wicket win over the defending champions Knight Riders in their opening fixture.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, occupying fifth position also on two points, will also be high on confidence as they bounced back from a six-wicket loss to Guyana Amazon Warriors to better the Knight Riders by 42 runs on last.

Another victory today would add impetus to the Patriots’ form going forward, as they are on the hunt to overturn last year’s loss in the final with their first-ever hold on the prestigious title this year.

Gayle along with the likes of Evin Lewis, Carlos Brathwaite, Devon Thomas and Australian’s Ben Cutting and Tom Cooper will be expected to do the brunt of the damage with the bat if the Patriots are to get home.

Tallawahs, on the other hand, will expect much from Russell, Glenn Phillips, Ross Taylor, Johnson Charles, Kennar Lewis, and Rovman Powell with bat.

“I missed out last year, but God had everything planned out and it is great to be back and to start with a century. I am sorry it is only two games in Jamaica, but that is how it goes. we just want the fans to come out and support us and make the best of it,” Russell noted.

Meanwhile, Barbadian seamer Kemar Roach will be among those expected to bring the fire of the Tallawahs bowling.

“It has been good so far. obviously, winning the first game is a good start to the tournament and I am happy to be here to play for Jamaica with Dre Russ.

“We started our careers pretty close together in the West Indies, so it is good to have him as a skipper and to have that experience in our team. So I am pretty excited about it and looking to improve my game in any way possible to help the Tallawahs win,” Roach told the Jamaica Observer.

Squads:

Tallawahs — Andre Russell (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Adam Zampa, Imad Wasim, Ross Taylor, Rovman Powell, Samuel Badree, Kemar Roach, Glenn Phillips, Andre McCarthy, Krishmar Santokie, Johnson Charles, Steven Taylor, Kennar Lewis, Steven Jacobs, Oshane Thomas, Kirsten Kallicharan, Elmore Hutchinson.

Patriots—Chris Gayle (captain), Mahmudullah, Devon Thomas, Tom Cooper, Carlos Brathwaite, Ben Cutting, Evin Lewis, Ibrahim Khaleel, Anton Devcich, Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen, Brandon King, Sandeep Lamichhane, Alzarri Joseph, Shamarh Brooks, Jeremiah Louis, Javelle Glen, Hayden Walsh