Unbeaten Guyana Jaguars will start as favourites when they face Jamaica Scorpions today in their fourth match of Cricket West Indies (CWI) 2018 Super50 Cup at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua from 14:00 hrs.
Jaguars lead the five-team Group ‘B’ with 13 points while Scorpions are in the penultimate position with just five points due to two losses which makes them desperately needing a win in today’s day/night contest.
Guyana Jaguars have looked the team beat in the tournament thus far and will look to keep Jamaica Scorpions at bay today
After their thrilling 16-run win over Leeward Hurricanes, Jaguars will be high on confidence knowing a victory today increases their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
The dashing Shimron Hetmyer leads their batting tally with 169 runs while captain Leon Johnson who fell for an agonizing 99 against Hurricanes follows with 149. Again much will be expected from the duo and all eyes will be on young Chandrapaul Hemraj who showed in the four-day format he has all the shots in the book but has not fired yet in the tournament.
With the departure of all-rounder Raymon Reifer for Windies ‘A’ team duties, the toss-up will be either brining replacement Christopher Barnwell straight into the playing eleven or giving young Clinton Pestano another opportunity; there is still Ricardo Adams and Ramaal Lewis who have not featured.
The fire-power at the bottom seems to be well-cover with Anthony Bramble firing at strike rate over 145 and young Sherfane Rutherford showing he has the ability to finish innings on a high.
Their most standout area has been with the ball which is led by the ever dependable Veerasammy Permaul and rising star Keemo Paul who both have seven wickets. Closely following is Windies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo with five. The two spinners will be under the spotlight since the come against Scorpions’ trump card with the bat, Christopher Gayle but the big Jamaica has only mustered 47 runs in his two matches.
The left-handed batsman is widely known for feasting on bowlers who spin the ball back into him and should he start today, the spin twins could have their hands full.
Scorpions’ batting has surprisingly been in-different given the experienced players they have in the wing as Andre McCarthy with 130 runs is the only batsman to tally over the triple figure mark. Jermaine Blackwood also leaves the squad for ‘A’ Team duties which further dents their top-order but there is still the power of Andre Russell and Ravmon Powell.
Russell, Christopher Lamont and Captain Nikita Miller have managed to do the bulk of the wicket-taking with eleven scalps between the trio.
All signs points towards a tight battle between two of the region’s powerhouses but Scorpions certainly have the bulk of the improving to do today.
Guyana Jaguars Squad: Leon Johnson (cpt), Ricardo Adams, Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Ramaal Lewis, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
Jamaica Scorpions: Nikita Miller (capt), Brandon King, Chris Gayle, Christopher Lamont, Andre McCarthy, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Peat Salmon, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas, Gavin Wallace, Chadwick Walton, Alwyn Williams.
