Trinbago Knight Riders To Take On St Lucia Stars In Opening Game Of CPL 2018
Reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders will take on St Lucia Stars in the opening game of the 2018 edition of the Caribbean Premier League on August 8. The sixth edition of the tournament will run from August 8 to September 16. The competition will have 30 league games followed by three playoff matches and the final.
Knight Riders had defeated St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 3 wickets in a thriller to win the title last year. Kevon Cooper had slammed a scintillating 14-ball 29, turning the tide inside an over to take his team over the line. Defending a modest 136, St Kitts were well on top till the 18th over when Knight Riders needed 22 off last 2 overs. However, a shocking over from Ben Hilfenhaus which read – 1, wd, wd, 2, 6nb, 4, 4, 1, 1 – gave the Knight Riders a thrilling win.
Meanwhile, like the last two seasons, the tournament will return to USA this year too. But unlike last season, USA will host three league games this year compared to last season’s four. All the games will be played in Florida and will be hosted by Jamaica Tallawahs.
This year’s semi-final and final will be in Trinidad, but the venue for the first two knockout matches is not announced yet.
Trinidad and Jamaica are the most successful teams in the league, winning the title twice. Barbados Tridents have won it on the one remaining occasion.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming season:
| Date | Fixture |
| Wednesday 8 Aug | Trinbago Knight Riders v St Lucia Stars, Trinidad. |
| Thursday 9 Aug | Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Venue TBC. |
| Friday 10 Aug | Trinbago Knight Riders v Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinidad. |
| Saturday 11 Aug | Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Lucia Stars, Venue TBC. |
| Saturday 11 Aug | Trinbago Knight Riders v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Trinidad. |
| Sunday 12 Aug | Guyana Amazon Warriors v Barbados Tridents, Venue TBC. |
| Tuesday 14 Aug | Jamaica Tallawahs v St Lucia Stars, Jamaica. |
| Wednesday 15 Aug | Jamaica Tallawahs v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Jamaica. |
| Thursday 16 Aug | St Lucia Stars v Trinbago Knight Riders, St Lucia. |
| Friday 17 Aug | St Lucia Stars v Barbados Tridents, St Lucia. |
| Saturday 18 Aug | Jamaica Tallawahs v Guyana Amazon Warriors, USA. |
| Sunday 19 Aug | Jamaica Tallawahs v Trinbago Knight Riders, USA. |
| Tuesday 21 Aug | St Lucia Stars v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St Lucia. |
| Wednesday 22 Aug | Jamaica Tallawahs v Barbados Tridents, USA. |
| Friday 24 Aug | St Lucia Stars v Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Lucia. |
| Saturday 25 Aug | Barbados Tridents v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Barbados. |
| Saturday 25 Aug | St Lucia Stars v Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia. |
| Sunday 26 Aug | Barbados Tridents v Trinbago Knight Riders, Barbados. |
| Tuesday 28 Aug | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts. |
| Wednesday 29 Aug | Barbados Tridents v Jamaica Tallawahs, Barbados. |
| Thursday 30 Aug | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v St Lucia Stars, St Kitts. |
| Friday 31 Aug | Barbados Tridents v Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados. |
| Saturday 1 Sept | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Trinbago Knight Riders, St Kitts. |
| Sunday 2 Sept | Barbados Tridents v St Lucia Stars, Barbados. |
| Sunday 2 Sept | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts. |
| Tuesday 4 Sept | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Barbados Tridents, St Kitts. |
| Wednesday 5 Sept | Trinbago Knight Riders v Guyana Amazon Warriors, Trinidad. |
| Friday 7 Sept | Trinbago Knight Riders v Barbados Tridents, Trinidad. |
| Saturday 8 Sept | Guyana Amazon Warriors v Jamaica Tallawahs, Venue TBC. |
| Sunday 9 Sept | Guyana Amazon Warriors v Trinbago Knight Riders, Venue TBC. |
Schedule for playoffs and final:
| Date | Games |
| Tuesday 11 Sept | Playoff 1 – 1st v 2nd, Venue TBC. |
| Wednesday 12 Sept | Playoff 2 – 3rd v 4th, Venue TBC. |
| Date | Games |
| Friday 14 Sept | Semi-final -Winner Playoff 2 v Loser Playoff 1, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad |
| Sunday 16 Sept | Final – Winner Playoff 1 v Winner Semi-final, Brian Lara Cricket Academy Trinidad |
