Ousted Red Force hoping for revival against champions

– Hetmyer, Adams return for final round

It will be a tale of two vastly different tapes when the final round of the 2017/18 Cricket West Indies/Digicel four-day championships gets underway with bottom placed Trinidad and Tobago Red Force challenging rampant four-time Champions Guyana Jaguars from today at the National Stadium, Providence.
The main task for the visitors will be a ‘face-saving’ one since after nine rounds, they lay in the stellar position on just 80 points.
The franchise from the twin-island Republic have endured a torrid time this season, winning just two matches, losing four and drawing three. Should they lose this match, it will be their fourth straight defeat for a unit who were once the regional powerhouse.

Their demise could be attributed to many of their seasoned campaigners either on Windies duties or playing foreign T20 leagues.
Though, a dark cloud lingers of how they may perform in this match, captain Denesh Ramdin is still backing his team to do well. He believed that once they play good cricket they can steal some of the champs’ momentum and that itself will be used as fuel going forward.
On the other hand, Jaguars who secured their fourth consecutive Headley/Weekes Trophy with two rounds in hand, have amassed 145.2 points, 65.2 ahead of their depleted opponents.
This will be their last test to replicate their performance in the 2015/16 season when they played unbeaten. This season they have won six matches, tied one in cliff-hanger fashion and battled tirelessly for two draws.
Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith, contended they will not be taking their opponents for granted since they are firm on ending the season without a defeat. Griffith further stated he is wary of the threat Red Force hold since “they have nothing to lose.”
The last time these two teams met was in November and Red Force suffered its biggest loss in history by an innings and 217 runs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Regarding teams’ news, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the injured Romario Shepherd make way for Test batsman Shimron Hetmyer and left-arm spinner Anthony Adams in the Jaguars squad while Ewart Nicholson makes way for Jason Mohammed for the visitors.
The rest of the squad will come from Leon Johnson (captain), Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Akshaya Persaud, Raymon Reifer, Sherfane Rutherford and Vishaul Singh.
For the Red Force, their final XI will come from Denesh Ramdin (captain), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Amir Jangoo, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Anderson Philip, Khary Pierre, Isaiah Rajah, Jeremy Solozano, Daniel St. Clair, Tion Webster.
Up until Wednesday morning the pitch had an appreciable amount of grass covering which may add to the liveliness of the encounter which is slated to commence at 09:30h. Admission to the venue is free.