The Saint Lucia Kings have officially wrapped up the group stage of this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in pole position to defend their title. Tied on 12 points with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders, the Boys in Blue sit atop the CPL table thanks to a superior net run rate.
During a pre-playoff press conference on September 15 in Guyana, Kings captain David Wiese shared his thoughts on the team’s journey so far. While pleased with their performance, he emphasised that the Kings remain focused on the task ahead as they aim to secure back-to-back titles.
“We’re quite happy to have secured one of the top two spots. That was our goal from the start to get into the top two, just give yourself that second bite at it in case things don’t go well in the playoffs. It just gives you two chances at it,” Wiese said.
“The guys are feeling confident. We’ve got a couple training sessions heading into the playoff game now. So the first job is done for us, but it’s not finished yet. And we’ve still got a couple of important games coming up.”
When asked whether the coin toss would play a significant role in the upcoming fixtures, Wiese acknowledged its historical influence but made it clear that his squad is focused on what they can control.
“At the end of the day, the toss is something that you can’t control. And whatever happens, you need to make sure you, whether you’re batting first, bowling first, whatever it is, you’ve got to make sure you do your skills well and give yourself the best opportunity and the best chance to win the game,” he noted.
“Specifically, this year, conditions have changed a little bit, and it’s not as much as ‘Win the toss, win the game’ anymore. You still need to put in the good performances, you still need to play well, you still need to plan well and prepare for those games and for those situations.
“So it’s not something that we’re going to put too much emphasis on. Whatever we’re going to need to do first, bat or ball, you’re just going to have to do it better than your opposition on the night.”
The Kings will face the second-placed Guyana Amazon Warriors on September 17 in the first qualifier. The winner of this fixture will advance directly to the final, while the loser will get a second opportunity to secure a spot in the final by playing the winner of the eliminator between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons.
