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Spotlight on: St Lucia Zouks!

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By Author CPL
In the second of our six-part series looking back on the 2015 Caribbean Premier League, we review how the Zouks franchise fared in the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, picking out some of their best moments and players from the season…
 
Key stats
 
Played 10 W 4 L 5 NR 1
 
Table 5th
 
Leading run-scorer: Andre Fletcher (369 runs @ 36.90)
 
Leading wicket-taker: Fidel Edwards (9 wickets @ 31.88)
 
Three things that went well
 
In a season of progress for the Zouks, which saw them win four games for the first time in CPL history, the biggest positive from the tournament was the consistency and explosiveness from the top three in the batting order. Time and again Andre Fletcher, Johnson Charles and Kevin Pietersen took the attack to the bowlers, helping the Zouks to rapid starts in their innings. All recorded a strike rate of 129 or better and smashed a combined 44 maximums to entertain the Caribbean crowds.
 
Their pace bowling at the start of the tournament, in home conditions, was hostile and quick. The sight of Shannon Gabriel (who recorded the fastest ball in the competition), Kemar Roach and Fidel Edwards whistling the ball past batsmen’s noses evoked memories of West Indian cricket of the past.
 
Finally the general atmosphere in and around the squad was fantastic with the whole team getting truly into the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ atmosphere. This was typified by Kevin Pietersen and Darren Sammy whining with the crowd after victory in game 6 against the Amazon Warriors at Beausejour.
 
Three things that didn’t go so well
 
Numbers one and two are combined, as it was a third season with the Zouks failing to make the play-offs - the only team of the original five franchises that has failed to make a CPL play-off game.
 
Winning away from your “home” island is never easy but after opening the tournament with two victories from their opening three game (the other being abandoned due to rain) at Beausejour, the Zouks were sat pretty at the top of the table. From there on, things went downhill with Darren Sammy’s team only winning two of their final seven games on the road. This form was the major factor behind failing to make it out of the group.
 
Injuries. It may be a bitter pill to swallow but untimely injuries to Eddie Leie and Darren Sammy robbed the Zouks of two key players in their playoff push. While both being unfortunate, the lack of depth in the squad was exposed against better opposition.
 
Best moment
 
The Andre Fletcher and Kevin Pietersen show at Warner Park in Match 12 of the competition. It was always going to be a tough ask for the Tridents to defend a small-sized ground against two of the tournament’s most powerful hitters but even at their best, they would have struggled to bowl to the pair who shared an exhilarating stand of 138 (a tournament high) for the second wicket.
 
Between them, they struck 10 boundaries and nine maximums as the crowd in St Kitts were treated to one of the finest T20 partnerships the CPL has ever witnessed.
 
Season MVP
 
Andre Fletcher. Already noted above for his explosive hitting, the opening batsman was in scintillating form throughout the tournament. Earmarked by Kevin Pietersen as an “outstanding” talent, the diminutive right-hander fulfilled his promise, leading the run-scoring charts for the Zouks with 369 runs and four half-centuries. His gigantic one-handed six off the bowling of Robin Peterson against the Tridents in Match 12 was one of the shots of the tournament.
 
The name we will be hearing more about…
 
Keron Cottoy. The 25-year-old may have only played in three games but his leg-spin left a lasting impression on the tournament - taking 6 wickets at an average of 10.16. On pitches that invariably supported slower bowling, Cottoy provided much-needed balance to the Zouks attack in the later rounds of group stage. It should be a no brainer for him to return to the franchise in 2016.
 
What they said
 
"I mean it’s good fun. It’s real good fun. If you don’t enjoy your cricket in the Caribbean then there’s something wrong with you"- Kevin Pietersen on playing in the tournament
 
Hopes for 2016
 
Hope should remain high for the Zouks of making the play-offs for the first time in 2016. If they can entice Kevin Pietersen back for the six weeks, the batting order on paper remains one of the strongest in the tournament. They do, however, need to add spin options to their squad plus two or three quality back-up players to give themselves a greater chance to compete away from Beausejour.

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Spotlight on: St Lucia Zouks! CPL T20

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