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Match 31 | Caribbean Premier League 2026 | Providence Stadium, Georgetown | Guyana vs Saint Lucia Kings
Noor Ahmad never even made it to the West Indies this season, so the spin duties at Saint Lucia Kings fall entirely on Maheesh Theekshana. He alone has to find a way to slow down a Guyana batting lineup that has won every single match it has played so far this tournament. Roston Chase and Matthew Forde carry the rest of the bowling hopes on a Providence surface that traditionally helps spin more than pace, and Saint Lucia badly need a result here.
Noor Ahmad has zero appearances, zero wickets, and no economy rate to speak of this CPL season, after the Afghanistan Cricket Board revoked his No Objection Certificate before a ball was bowled. He never traveled to the West Indies, and Saint Lucia Kings brought in New Zealand batter Tim Seifert as his replacement instead.
That leaves Maheesh Theekshana carrying the spin attack alone. His numbers this tournament are mixed: 2 wickets for 33 runs against these exact opponents back in Match 11, but a rough outing against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots where captain Shanaka took him for three boundaries in a single over. His career T20 economy of 7.07 across 225 matches and 230 wickets suggests the control is usually there, even if this season has not always shown it.
Roston Chase has quietly been the most economical bowler in the Saint Lucia attack, going at just 6.48 an over while picking up 12 wickets in the tournament so far. Matthew Forde leads the squad in outright wickets with 15, though his economy of 9.44 shows he generally takes them at a cost.
| Bowler | Team | Economy | Wickets |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Saint Lucia Kings | 7.80 | 7 |
| Roston Chase | Saint Lucia Kings | 6.48 | 12 |
| Matthew Forde | Saint Lucia Kings | 9.44 | 15 |
Guyana’s top order gives this attack plenty to think about. Rahmanullah Gurbaz opens, Shai Hope and Glenn Phillips add class through the middle, and Shimron Hetmyer can finish an innings inside three overs if the bowling loses its length at the death. Mavendra Dindyal and Quentin Sampson add further depth lower down the order.
Six matches, six wins, and a net run rate of plus 1.977 make this the form team of the entire competition heading into Match 31. Second-placed Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have played three more matches just to stay within a single point of top spot, a gap that shows exactly how efficient Guyana have been all season.
Saint Lucia sit fourth with 8 points from 8 games, a net run rate of minus 0.888, and a form line that badly needs a positive result to keep pace with the top of the table before the September 20 final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Since Saint Lucia Kings took on their current name in 2017, these two sides have met 22 times, with Guyana winning 14 and Saint Lucia taking 8. The all-time record across every previous franchise name and identity sits at 17 wins to 11 in Guyana’s favor from 29 total matches played.
The most recent head-to-head meeting went the home side’s way too, a 7-wicket win back in August at the same Providence Stadium where Match 31 will be played. Saint Lucia’s only recent win over these opponents in this fixture stretches back to the 2024 final, where the Kings prevailed by 6 wickets in a very different context to today.
A home ground advantage for Guyana at Providence has counted for plenty already this season, and a spin-friendly surface should, in theory, suit Theekshana more than most visiting bowlers. The problem is that his tournament numbers so far don’t fully back up that theoretical edge just yet.
Saint Lucia cannot afford another loss if they want any real say in how the playoff picture eventually shapes up. The Guyana vs Saint Lucia CPL 2026 bowlers matchup may end up mattering less than how well the Kings bat first, but stopping this lineup with the ball is where their route back into form has to start.
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How many wickets has Noor Ahmad taken in CPL 2026?
Zero, because he never played a single match this season. The Afghanistan Cricket Board revoked his NOC before the tournament began, and Tim Seifert replaced him.
Who is Guyana Amazon Warriors captain in CPL 2026?
Imran Tahir leads a squad built around Gurbaz, Hope, Hetmyer and Phillips. The side has won all six of its matches so far this season and tops the points table.
Which bowler has the best economy for Saint Lucia Kings?
Roston Chase is the most economical option at 6.48 runs an over. He has also taken 12 wickets, more than any other Saint Lucia spinner this season.
When is the CPL 2026 final being played?
The final is scheduled for September 20, 2026, at Kensington Oval. The venue sits in Bridgetown, Barbados, and will host the tournament’s biggest match of the year.
Where is the Guyana vs Saint Lucia Match 31 being played?
Providence Stadium in Georgetown hosts this fixture, a home ground for Guyana. The surface there is considered one of the more spin-friendly pitches in the Caribbean.
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