Guyana Jaguars star speedster Clinton Pestano says he’s not letting up on his training despite a stellar Regional Super50 as he’s focused on making the cut for the upcoming Regional 4-Day tournament.
Pestano, who ended as one of the most successful pacers in the recently- concluded championships with 15 wickets under his belt, told Guyana Times Sport on Thursday that he was proud of his bowling feats but was pushing in double time with regard to maintaining his form as he wants to help the 4-time Four-Day champs successfully defend their title come December.
“The key right now for me is to get back as fit as possible because the Regional Four-Day is just weeks away and fitness is key. My focus now is playing Four-Day for Guyana and also becoming a regular member in the team for all formats,” Pestano said.
As a member of the Jaguars Academy, the 25-year-old pointed out that his current form and confidence were driving forces behind his goals of playing for the West
Clinton Pestano celebrates a wicket with his Guyana Jaguars teammates
Indies as well as franchise T20 cricket. “Right now, I’m looking forward to playing for the West Indies at any level and I want to play franchise T20 cricket like CPL.”
The pacer was a key member of the Jaguars‘ amazing run throughout the championships. In the final, he bagged 1-28 in a losing cause as the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners lifted the Regional 50-Over title. His venom and knack of picking up wickets at regular intervals were crucial factors in a team with mainly star spinner’s success.
Pestano duly noted that his directive as a bowler in general, whether it be domestic, is not to always take a wicket, but to also keep batsmen as quiet as possible. However, in his match against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, who was firing at the point, the speedster was more lethal than timid as he bagged a hat-trick to etch his name in Regional Super50 history books.
Regarding his history-making spell of 3-47, the ex-Guyana Under-19 player said he was still astonished by his accomplishment, which he had never done before. “I have never taken a hat-trick before, not even in club cricket, so I was very pleased. It was a good feeling, especially against a team like T&T Red Force; it was not easy because they have a quality side with a number of West Indies players and players with experience.”
Guyana again came inches close to recapturing the title which has eluded them for more than a decade, but were stopped by CCC who played out of their skins as they sought the same glory as they Guyanese did; thus leaving the Four-Day champs to yet again salivate over the limited-overs crown.
In concluding the interview, Pestano speaking on his, as well as the Jaguars’, run, said although the tournament was good, it was also tough going as they neared the end. “Everything was going well, the semi-finals was like a finals and credit to CCC, they are a good team with some good players. Our guys worked hard to bring the championships back home, we’re disappointed, but those are the kind of things that happen when you’re playing in a final,” Pestano ended.
