With almost 40 points a clear way ahead of their 5th round opponents, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, table-leaders and defending champs Guyana Jaguars will continue to stalk their prey as they seek to maintain their unbeaten run this season.
Guyana has been ruthless since their title defence commenced last year, beating all their opponents outright to surge easily to the top of the points table, where they sit comfortably on 80.2 points.
They are followed by the Hurricanes, who come in second with 43.6 points, and although the clash is one between the number one and two teams, it feels like the
Rahkeem Cornwall
Jaguars could make a meal of their opponents.
The last time the two sides met, earlier in the competition, the Jags blew away the Hurricanes by 9 wickets after the champs let loose their deadly lot of bowlers, who ran amok. Bowling won the last game for the Jags, with spinner Veerasammy Permaul bagging 6 wickets for his MVP award.
The Hurricanes saw a few of their batters putting their hands up; with Montcin Hodge, and opener and skipper Devon Thomas being the only two batsmen to hit fifties in the match during the first innings. Thomas, Hodge, and the likes of Kacey Carty who has a ton under his belt; Rakeem Cornwall, who has not yet fired in a big way; and possibly Akeem Saunders would hold up the top-order.
Former Guyana Jaguars opener and new Hurricanes batsman Rajendra Chandrika was hurt during the last game against his countrymen, after he was bowled for 9 in the first innings by pacer Keon Joseph. It is unclear whether the ex-West Indies Test batsman will be fit or if the Hurricanes will risk adding him to the squad, given his failure in the last game.
One major concern for the Hurricanes is the Jags batting, which has been the best in the competition to date. The champs have 3 centuries so far in the camp — two to Anthony Bramble and one to Tagenarine Chanderpaul, while a number of their batsmen have hit fifties. A few of their players were drafted into the Windies
Veerasammy Permaul
President’s XI team for the England tour game.
The success of the players individually reflects the danger of the team holistically, as Bramble currently sits in the number one spot for overall most runs in the Championships, with 327. The highest average of the tournament is 109.00. Tagenarine, son of the Legendary Shivnarine Chanderpaul, recently hit the 300-run mark after his gritty ton in the last game highlighted the left-hander’s love for grinding the bowlers.
Bramble will be the man to watch out for; his 130 * was followed up in the next game by a brutal 168, signalling his intent for the remainder of the tour should he not score a next hundred and earn a call up to the Windies Test team.
Leon Johnson has been a revelation for the team with his leadership and his impetus over the years; but with just one fifty in the tournament, followed by a string of low scores, the ex-Windies Test and ODI batsman would want to remind those of his class that he is still around, and should he fire come this round, it will complete the Jaguars’ batting cypher.
No worries follow the Jaguars in the bowling department. The blend of youthful aggression from the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd and Clinton Pestano in the pace department has rocked the opposition thus far. The leading wicket-takers of the tournament are all spinners, with Jamaica Scorpions left-armer Nikita Miller leader with 24.
Permaul, Guyana’s most successful bowler, trails his fellow left-arm spinner by a wicket, as he comes in at number 2 with 23 scalps, while Shepherd is the Jaguars leading wicket-taker for the seamers with 14 victims at a stingy average of 22.14; leaving the other options with less pressure and more momentum to carry through their spells with success.
Hurricanes could fancy themselves in the bowling department as well, having some of the most talented bowlers in the Caribbean in their line-up. Test pacer Alzarri Joseph is the leading overall wicket-taker for seamers with 15 victims, while Windies B pacer Sherman Louis supports as the other senior. However, Joseph will not be available for this fixture.
Cornwall is tasked with shouldering much responsibility, given his record with the ball against Guyana; while the crafty Damion Jacobs could play a good supporting role in the spin department.
Meanwhile, the Jags will enter this game for the first time since 2013 with a new head coach, who is yet to be announced. Esuan Crandon recently vacated his post to take his new role as the Windies Senior Men’s assistant coach for the England series.
Thursday’s first day action is expected to bowl off from 9:30h, with admission to the Providence National Stadium free to the public.
