5 Bold Predictions for the 2014 CLT20 Semi-Finals and Final

The Champions League Twenty20 has almost come and gone without too many people noticing. While the tournament is a great concept, this year's edition has been somewhat underwhelming. Whether that's a symptom of being "too much of a good thing" or the fact that some people just need a break from cricket, nobody knows.

Still, that doesn't mean there aren't important semi-finals and a final to be played.

And where there are important matches, there are also some outlandish predictions. Some of these might be downright foolish, so feel free to point and laugh when absolutely none of them come true. Also feel free to add your own predictions in the comments.

1. Kings XI Will Win a Trophy

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This is a big one, and considering the unpredictable nature of T20s, it’s probably a foolish one. But Kings XI Punjab have had a really good tournament, and on paper, they are a balanced team. They have held their nerve and seem to be the one team that’s on a roll.

Often “peaking too early” see teams flop in the finals, but if there is such a thing as a law of averages in sport, Kings XI cannot possibly fail again. 

2. No Bowling Actions to Be Reported

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There’s been a lot of reporting of illegal actions going on, but we’re going out on a limb here to say that there will be none of that in these games.

Sunil Narine was reported recently, per Nagraj Gollapudi of ESPNCricInfo, so he knows he is under scrutiny and will be more careful.

The same goes for all other bowlers who might be aware that their actions aren’t completely legitimate. With so much fuss being made about actions, bowlers are likely to be a bit more cautious.

3. Aiden Blizzard Will Score a Hundred

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Aiden Blizzard has been one of the star batsmen of the tournament; he's got 188 runs in four games, including two fifties. His top score thus far is an unbeaten 78, and there is no better time than a semi-final to convert one of those starts into a big hundred.

While the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling line-up is by no means weak, there are plenty of bowlers who are there for the taking. If Blizzard gets in and gets settled, he’s certainly due for a big score.

4. It Won’t Be an All-IPL Team Final

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This is a big one, and if it doesn’t happen, feel free to point and laugh.

Considering KKR are current IPL champions and have not lost a single match this tournament, it seems like a silly prediction, but they have been heavily reliant on Narine’s bowling. While he’s by no means ruled out because of it, he might not bowl quite as aggressively as usual, meaning the other bowlers will have to plug the gap.

There is also the slim chance that he might not play which will give the opposition a massive advantage.

5. Sunil Narine Won’t Take a Wicket

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Considering Narine has taken at least one wicket in every game of the tournament so far, this prediction might not only be bold, but it might also be foolish.

The thing is, he is under scrutiny from the umpires after being warned about his actions. Although it was only his quicker balls that are under suspicion, he’s likely to play it safe rather than end up being sorry.