Both Barbados Pride and Leeward Islands Hurricanes will be looking to feature in the 2017 Super50 final on Saturday against the Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge ground in Antigua and Barbuda.
The two teams will confront each other from 13:30h today at the same venue in the second semi-final showdown and a fascinating battle is highly anticipated.
Barbados, who dominated Group B by emerging triumphant on seven occasions from the allotment of eight matches, will be looking undoubtedly to extend their winning streak and subsequently participate in the championship game.
They will face the potent Jamaica Scorpions who knocked out two-time defending champions, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last evening in the first semi-final also at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Historically, Barbados Pride and Leeward Islands Hurricanes have seven regional one-day titles since the limited-over version was introduced in 1972/73.
Leeward Islands of course shared the prestigious trophy three times lastly with Barbados in 2011, with Guyana in 1992/93 and with Jamaica in 1977/78.
Alluding to the fact that the Hurricanes side won less matches (six) than their opponents (seven), Leeward Islands Hurricanes still have greater consistency in the batting department while their bowling also has been terrifically penetrative.
Kieran PowellKraigg Brathwaite
Opener Kieran Powell has been prolific chalking up over 500 runs at the completion of the preliminary-round stage inclusive of three brilliant centuries.
His self-imposed absence from cricket for two consecutive years doesn’t resonate that as he batted with supreme confidence to become the tournament’s leading batsman this season.
The flamboyant left-hander should expect good support from Montcin Hodge who has so far scored 291 runs from seven games while another inform batsman, Rahkeem Cornwall continues to impress the West Indies selectors with some all-round performances aggregating 222 runs from eight games.
The bowling will obviously pin high on the experienced fast-bowler Gavin Tonge who has 13 wickets from eight games while young and ebullient test quickie Alzari Joseph is making a resounding impact with his pace and hostility.
Joseph has grabbed 16 wickets from seven appearances so far and both of them should get the necessary support from off-spinner Cornwall and left-arm spinner and Franchise player Akeal Hosein who has 11 scalps from his seven outings. The side also has a vote of confidence from their head coach Reginald Benjamin who spoke enthusiastically about the team’s chance of winning the title on this occasion.
“Things are going really good; it’s semifinal stage, so it’s do-or-die [today] so we are ready for the match against Barbados,” Benjamin said after Wednesday’s training session.
He further emphasized the importance of his side sticking to the game plan and once executed well, victory could be easily achieved.
“I think once we play positive cricket and be patient, we can be able to make the people of Leeward Islands very proud; Barbados is a good side and we would not take them lightly,” Benjamin declared.
Barbados Pride, who were dethroned by Trinidad and Tobago
Red Force in 2015, proved their regional one-day superiority from the commencement of this year’s edition trouncing Guyana Jaguars by a massive 145-run margin.
But their only defeat against Jamaica Scorpions might just be a wake-up call for them, however. Their batting will certainly hinge around their most consistent batsman Kraigg Brathwaite. With an average of 58.28 having accumulated 408 runs attest to Brathwaite’s rich form while the right-hander West Indies opener may have solid support from Jonathan Carter who has 300 runs and Shai Hope with 256 runs also from eight games.
Barbados Pride also showed great strength in the bowling region leading by the inspirational off-spinner Ashley Nurse, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker so far with 22 victims.
For a match of this magnitude, the toss would be critically important to win. Based on what had transpired throughout the first segment, both leaders will be anxious to make the right call and have a knock first because of its responsiveness. Both teams will also be mindful of what the first finalist, the Scorpions did yesterday when they batted Red Force out of the tournament.
