By Jemima Holmes
Thumping hearts, sweaty palms, and crossed fingers are only a few of the scenes that will be witnessed at the Guyana National Stadium today, as four teams begin their hunt for a spot in Friday’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final.
Playoff fever will hit Guyana today, as the Hero CPL heads into the nail-biting back end of its tournament. With the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) qualifying alongside the Barbados Royals, St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs, the teams are promising their ‘A’ game.
The events of Sunday last at the Providence Stadium, made for an interesting playoff fixture, where local franchise, the GAW, have secured two slices of the pie, alongside the Barbados Royals.
As the teams get ready for today’s Qualifier 1 and Eliminator 1 at Guyana’s premier cricketing venue, the team captains gathered at the Pegasus Hotel and Corporate Suites for some pre-game action, to share expectations and thoughts on their team’s performance in the tournament thus far.
“Things been great, eight games out of 10, you know, I think the boys have been playing some great cricket. Just unfortunate we lost the game last night, we really wanted to win the game to go into the playoffs with some momentum, but I think the guys have been awesome,” Barbados Royals Captain Kyle Mayers shared.
“They’re still in the game, very high spirited and ready to go for tomorrow,” he asserted after the crushing loss to the Amazon Warriors on Sunday night.
First-time Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Shimron Hetmyer said, “The start wasn’t what we expect as a team as well, but I think, the guys, when they got back to Guyana, their spirits were much higher than I expected and they’re ready to go, with the crowds.”
“As I say, the twelfth man really plays a part, so, I think having the crowds here and knowing the conditions as well as we do, I think the guys are really, really up to the challenge, they’re been playing fantastic cricket for the past four games, it’s just for us to continue,” Hetmyer explained about the impact of playing at home.
Meanwhile, St Lucia Kings Captain Faf du Plessis had words of praise for the surface at Providence.
“I think the only difference, so far, is obviously that extra game that you could’ve played. There’re four strong teams in the competition, really impressed with how the wicket’s been playing. I think it’s – my experience from the past years – it’s a nice cricket wicket setup for what would be quarter-finals and semi-finals over the next two days,” du Plessis underscored.
On the other hand, Jamaica Tallawahs Captain Rovman Powell shared, “I think it’s been an up and down season for us as a franchise but having said that, I think the guys have played some really good cricket in patches. The guys are up for the challenge and are looking forward to what the finals weekend brings,” It’s basically the business end of the competition and it’s time for us to possibly bring our ‘A’ game and I think the guys are chomping at the bit to do that.”
Guyana Amazon Warriors
The local franchise, GAW, are on a hot streak and rightfully so. However, Captain Hetmyer recognises that there is a lot of talk about the Warriors’ track record at this stage, but is unfazed by such.
“Mentally, the guys are good actually. We can’t really think about what happened in the past, because some of these guys, a lot of these guys, they weren’t actually there in the past teams that actually made it to the knockout rounds,” Hetmyer explained.
“We can’t think of what happened before, it’s just to, as I keep telling them, just take it one game at a time and then we’ll see what happens in the next one.”
Additionally, Hetmyer is focused on maintaining positive vibes in his camp. This, of course, means that the captain is not trying to create pressure situations for his players, especially regarding form.
Hetmyer asserted, “As it is, we basically back our players regardless of if they get runs today, they get runs tomorrow, whenever they do or even if they don’t, we still back the players.”
“We try as much to give them that energy, give them that support that they would need from us, even if they want to go early and hit a few balls, we’ll find a way to get that done. I think that’s all you have to do as management to make sure that you support all your players and make sure that they’re as comfortable as possible to succeed,” the GAW Captain divulged.
Barbados Royals
The Barbados Royals, up until Sunday, were the team to beat. Now, even as the table toppers for the preliminary stage, it’s anyone’s game to take. The Royals have lost their Captain David Miller and batsman Quinton de Kock to international duties, but current Captain Kyle Mayers is relieved that others players have been able to come to the party.
“I mean to miss those two big players is a hard thing, but you know, we have some guys who came in, who are looking the part. Harry Azam getting a promotion to bat earlier and Najibullah, who flew in recently. I think these guys are capable for making up these losses,” Mayers elucidated.
Speaking on what the Royals need to work on going forward, Mayers commented, “I just think we need to learn from the conditions. I think we need to assess the conditions a bit faster with bat and ball. I think we’ve been doing that very well throughout the season.”
St Lucia Kings
The St Lucia Kings missed out on their last game, owing to rain at the Providence Stadium on Sunday. However, the Kings are coming with a vengeance and maybe a plan to rain down the runs at Providence tonight.
Captain Faf du Plessis highlighted the team’s impressive starts thus far, describing it as their weapon. A such, he expressed optimism in their batting capabilities.
“I think any batting team would say to you that form plays a big role. As a team I feel like, myself and John up front, we have some very good form there, but also some of the other guys are looking like they’re hitting the ball better and that’s pleasing signs,” the St Lucia Captain explained.
Adding another bit about the wicket at Providence, Du Plessis stated, “I’m really impressed with the wicket, when I was last here in 2016, the wicket didn’t quite play the same. Now it feels like a proper T20 wicket, where there’s something in it for both bat and ball.”
Jamaica Tallawahs
Jamaica too, like St Lucia, had their last preliminary game abandoned because of rain, but the achievement of a playoff spot, is by no means an unappreciated feat for the Tallawahs.
“I think it’s a step in the right direction for the franchise, from not being in the playoffs last year to being in the playoffs this year. You know, it’s a positive step in the right direction,” Captain Rovman Powell said about qualifying.
Powell, like his matching numbers, isn’t too worried about his team’s batting, but hopes they can all ‘show up and show out’.
“As it regards the batting of the team, the guys have the full backing of the staff and the Coach and everybody, it’s just for them to continue to put up their hand and who is not putting up their hand to come to the party?”
Powell continued, “I believe that the guys will come to the party very soon, because if you watch the guys in training, they’re hitting the ball pretty good.”
The Amazon Warriors and the Barbados Royals will lock horns in Qualifier 1 today beginning at 10am, where the winner will head straight to Friday’s Hero CPL final.
At 7pm, the Tallawahs and the Kings will battle to stay alive in Eliminator 1. Then, on Wednesday night, the winner of Eliminator 1 will play the loser of Qualifier 1 for a shot at the final.
Tickets for the playoff games are still available and can be purchased at the GAW Box Office, at 233-234 Camp Street, Georgetown.
