Dominant Jaguars, jaded Scorpions to clash in first semi

The Regional Super50 leaders, Guyana Jaguars will clash with the Jamaica Scorpions in the first semi-final in this edition of the Tournament on Thursday, October 25, at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
This much-anticipated encounter is scheduled for a 14:00h start.
With rain spoiling the Jaguars’ last match, they are seeking to build momentum against a weary Jamaica Scorpions team who have lost their last two matches. Scorpions have suffered a 39-run defeat against the Barbados Pride, with their most recent loss being against the promising United States of America team, who inflicted a massive 74-run defeat.
On the other hand, Jaguars are on 29 points having played eight matches, with two rain-affected games, for five wins and a loss against arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. Experienced regional campaigner Christopher Barnwell leads the batting charts for the Guyana Jaguars with 255 runs in six innings at an average of 63.75 with a good strike rate of 93.75. Brilliant Barnwell has two half-centuries to his name, including his unbeaten 99. Barbadian Raymon Reifer has proved to be very effective with the bat this season for the Jaguars, scoring 217 runs at a formidable average of 72.33. The consistent left-handed Reifer has three half-centuries to his name, striking at 83.14. Trevon Griffith has 207 runs in the seven innings he batted, with two half-centuries to his name. It has been a great return this season for the Guyanese opener. Guyana Jaguars will be hoping for one of these fine batsmen to score a century as the lone Jaguars centurion Chanderpaul Hemraj is currently on international duty in India. With the class that Captain Leon Johnson has, his numbers in this tournament have proved wrong.
He will be eager to score, as he has had an ordinary Super 50 Tournament thus far, scoring only 107 runs at an average of 21.40, with his highest score being 37.
In the bowling department, consistency is the one word that describes the impressive Ramaal Lewis’s bowling, as he leads the Jaguars bowling chart with 12 wickets. His off-spinning service will be required in the semis, since his economy rate is below four. However, it is Clinton Pestano, who had a dream tournament with the ball. Pestano, who has a bowling strike rate of 32.5, is second on the Jaguars bowling chart with 11 scalps, including the infamous hat-trick against Trinidad.
Skipper Johnson has counted on Pestano to pick up wickets this season and he will be called upon in this semi-final. Seasoned left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and pace ace Romario Shepherd will offer support in the bowling department.
Meanwhile, Scorpions have 21 points, but they are low on confidence, especially since that upset they were handed by USA, but they may have a good day against the Jaguars. Having played eight matches, Scorpions have won four and lost three with the other being rain-affected. Axed West Indies Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood is having a scintillating tournament having scored 315 runs in eight innings at an average of 45. Blackwood also scored a masterful century this season along with two half- centuries.
The underrated Andre McCarthy has also been amongst the runs with 298 runs beneath his belt at an astonishing average of 49.67. Classy opener John Campbell has 242 runs, but has struggled to find his groove with the bat in his last two innings. Campbell has three half-centuries, striking the ball at a daunting rate of 94.16.
The likes of Chadwick Walton and Brandon King will be looking for scores alongside their names since they failed miserably, with the bat averaging 10 and 24 respectively. Veteran left-arm spinner Nikita Miller is expected to take wickets. Miller has been the leading Scorpions bowler with 11 wickets, and speedster Jerome Taylor has led the pace attack with eight wickets.
The Guyana Jaguars will be looking to overcome the Scorpions in the first semi-final, with CCC Marooners challenging Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the second semi-final, which will be played on Friday October 26, 14:00h Eastern Caribbean time. (Brandon Corlette)