The third round of the Jaguars Premier League bowls off today and it is predicted to be a highly competitive round since the top three teams will be looking to extend their lead while the other five teams must aim for redemption to give themselves an opportunity to win the title.
The eagerly anticipated clashes in this round will see Essequibo coming up against Upper Demerara/ East Bank at the Everest Cricket Club ground, West Berbice competing against West Demerara at the Young Warriors Cricket Club ground at Cumberland, Upper Corentyne doing battle with Lower Corentyne at the Port Mourant Community Centre and Georgetown challenging East Coast Demerara at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda.
However, the two main draws over the next three days are the battles of the neighbours with Upper Corentyne coming up against Lower Corentyne and East Coast challenging Georgetown. Although the former encounter is between the leaders and the team in the cellar position, it is expected to have fierce competition since the players are acquainted with each others from playing most of their cricket in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) sponsored competitions and pride and egos will ensure an aggressive battle.
In form discarded national player Jonathan Foo is expected to spearhead the batting for Lower Corentyne while Surujnarine Kandasammy, Gajanand Singh and Devon Clements are expected to provide valuable support. The bowling department is pugnacious with the likes of Raun Johnson, who along with Veerasamy Permaul has been responsible for dismantling the oppositions in the first two matches.
In the other match, second placed East Coast will take on Georgetown at the renowned Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda. East Coast has been up to standard to date with the likes of first class players Rajendra Chandrika, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Paul Wintz and Amir Khan holding their own and showing their worth with some good returns.
However, Georgetown, who is currently in fifth place, is not to be written off. It is a team that comprises of Christopher Barnwell and Robin Bacchus; both national senior players among many other players who would have exceled at the junior level and continues to be in contention for senior selection.
The other two matches are also predicted to be tough clashes but Essequibo is expected to trump Upper Demerara/ East Bank while the game featuring West Demerara and West Berbice is set to be in the balance as any team could emerge the as victors.
Essequibo’s Kevon Boodie and Lower Corentyne’s Jonathan Foo are the only batsmen to score centuries to date. Some other notable players to look for in this round are Robin Bacchus, Ovid Richardson, Kwame Crosse, Gajanand Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Bhaskar Yadram, Ricardo Adams, Seon Hetmyer and Andre Stoll.
Notably 11 key players namely, Leon Johnson, Rajendra Chandrika, Vishal Singh, Shimron Hetmyer, Assad Fudadin, Keon Joseph, Ronsford Beaton, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Paul Wintz will miss the third round to participate in a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) training camp in Barbados also taking place over the weekend.
At the end of the second round which concluded on Sunday, Lower Corentyne remained in the lead on 36.5 points compliments of two outright victories.
Meanwhile, in second place on 31.5 points is East Coast Demerara with two wins, firstly against West Demerara then Upper Corentyne. Trailing in a distant third place is West Demerara on 21.5 points after one win and a loss. While following are Essequibo, Georgetown 10.6, West Berbice 10.1, Upper Demerara/ East Bank 9.7 and Upper Corentyne 9.5 in that order
