Playing for Pride; Guyana, Leeward Islands still in search of first win

Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup…

By Brandon Corlette

After contrasting defeats against Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, hosts, Guyana will be playing for pride against the Leeward Islands Women’s at Enmore. The winless teams will clash from 9:30h today, Thursday March 21.

Guyana’s captain, Shemaine Campbelle, fresh from a century spoke after the match against Jamaica at Everest stating that the team will not be taking anything for granted while searching for a consolation win in the third round.
Reflecting on the defeat against Jamaica, Campbelle stated that 242 runs was a total the team was thankful for, after the batting collapse. The Guyanese Women’s failed to capitalize and win critical moments in both of their matches. In the opening match against Trinidad, the bowlers restricted the Trinidadians to 157-7 at one point in the innings but lost their way; conceding an unbroken 64-run partnership.

That was the turning point of the Guyanese in the first match where they suffered a 69-run defeat to the Trinidadians. Furthermore, the batting department of Guyana continues to portray flaws with the exception of Campbelle. The likes of Sheneta Grimmond, Melanie Henry, Akaze Thompson and Lashuna Toussaint are all capable batters that are not pulling their weights.
The flamboyant opener, Grimmond has looked good at the crease but the runs is not behind her; she has scores of 25 and 03 in her two matches. Melanie Henry, who opened the batting in the first game and was demote in the second match batting at number seven had scores of 05 and 00. Akaze Thompson, has shown her worth in the bowling department but with the bat she has not find her feet aggregating scores of 03 and 02 thus far. Teenage all-rounders in Shabika Gajnabi and Cherry Ann Fraser among other batters in the top seven will be aiming to cash in against the jaded Leeward Islands.

In the match against Jamaica the fielding was below par and the bowlers with the exception of Erva Giddings was effective. However, the bowling department still has the depth to blow away any team on its given day with the likes of Tremayne Smartt and company shown in the past that they are well-capable to destroy batting lineups.
All three departments have to click for Guyana to find a consolation victory. Shemaine Campbelle who express her disappointment in the field department stated that was the turning point in their six wicket loss to Jamaica.
Meanwhile, Guyana will be a more confident outfit against Leeward Islands who suffered seven wicket defeats against powerhouses Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The batting department of the Leeward Islands have been patchy in both matches but they will be looking for something special to further dent the hopes of team Guyana in this competition.
The Enmore Community Centre ground is a fairly large outfield and this will be the first of its three matches hosted in the Super50 leg of the Women’s championships. Team Guyana will be familiar with the spin-friendly conditions having undergone training sessions prior to the commencement of the tournament while Leeward Islands will be unfamiliar with the conditions.