Monday’s Round Five of the Jaguars 50-Overs League will feature mouth-watering encounters as a number of in-form players as well as franchises are rearing to finish this season as the number one team.
Anthony Adams
At Enmore, Lower Corentyne and East Coast look to better each other, especially after East Coast’s last game was rained out on Wednesday. Lower Corentyne have always been a top franchise, with the likes of Jason Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson and Jonathan Foo leading the batting, despite their lack of runs in the last game, which cost them a win against Essequibo.
East Coast could likely capitalise on the loss, as their batting line-up features Windies U-19 all-rounder Bhaskar Yadram and his brother Kamesh, along with Windies A batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj, who could come to the party on Monday. Spinners Amir Khan and Gajanand Sukhanand are in good form. So too are the Berbicians in spinners Kelvin Umrao, Foo, Kassim Khan and Veerasammy Permaul.
East Bank suffered a loss to defending Champs Georgetown in their last game, with in-form opener Trevon Griffith continuing his form with a ton, and Vishaul Singh being the only other batsman to hold his ground with the bat, as his teammates found some quality bowling hard to play. This encounter against West Berbice at Bush Lot could see the home team pulling out the stops, given their easy 7-wicket win in the last game.
Much will revolve around Guyana Jaguars duo of pacer Keon Joseph and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, fresh off a 4-for, while Guyana’s U-9 players Javid Karim and Kevin Sinclair will also have huge roles to play.
In the bowling department, East Bank will rely heavily on national youth all-rounders Ronaldo Alimohammed and Trevor France.
The defending champs Georgetown, fresh off consecutive wins in the 3rd and 4th rounds, would want to continue their form against the likes of West Demerara, whom they battle at Everest. Skipper Leon Johnson, with two unbeaten fifties, could convert into something big; while veteran all-rounder Chris Barnwell is also in good form with both bat and ball. Georgetown would also want more from Robin Bacchus and Raymond Perez with the bat, while Ashmead Nedd and his U19 teammate Qumar Torrington, along with the in-form spinner Ramaal Lewis, would suffice with the ball.
West Demerara are a talented side, but their washed out game against East Coast in the round prior could see them having to push in extra work against the champs. Spinner Richie Looknauth, former national youth skipper Travis Persaud, and Ewert Samuels will have huge roles to fill, while the likes of ex-Windies U19 wicket-keeper batsman Tevin Imlach will need to lead from the front with bat.
The fourth encounter of round five will see Upper Corentyne and Essequibo locking horns at the Port Mourant Ground in the Ancient County. The Berbice side would want Alex Algoo and Clinton Pestano to continue their batting form, as both batsmen have fifties under their belts; while Joshua Ramsammy and spinner Eon Hooper have thus far shown their class with the bat.
Shawn Perreira, a former Guyana U19 skipper, and Andy Mohan were the only performers with the bat in the last game, but they would need to play more important roles come this round. Essequibo, former Franchise champs, are with few worries, especially given their bullish attack which features centurion Kemol Savory, Kevon Boodie, Ricardo Adams, the legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who could feature before the league ends, and a few others.
Their bowling unit, probably one of the best in the competition, are in top-form, with left-arm spinner Anthony Adams, brother Akenie, Ricardo and a renewed pacer Ronsford Beaton are all capable match-winners. Round five’s matches will bowl off from 9:00h, weather permitting. (Clifton Ross)
