ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Now that the six franchises have shaken off the rust and had a chance to get a real assessment of their line-ups, the second round of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament, starting on Friday, should be quite intriguing.
Reigning champions Guyana Jaguars will be looking to forge further ahead when they meet Leeward Islands Hurricanes, the key match of the round brings together fierce rivals Barbados Pride and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, while Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes look to get their season into gear when they face off.
In Kingston, Jamaica: The Scorpions and the Volcanoes were finalists just last year under the previous 4-Day format, but they have failed to find the successful formula that put them there.
The Scorpions failed to reach 200 in both innings and were soundly beaten by the Pride in the opening round, at the same time that the Volcanoes failed to mount a purposeful challenge against the Jaguars.
This could turn-out to be a topsy-turvy contest, after the sides shared the two matches last season with the Scorpions holding on for a gripping, 13-run victory at Sabina Park, the same venue for this weekend’s contest.
The Volcanoes however, could take heart that they have won at this venue as recent as a year ago, when they landed a three-wicket victory, so there will be no easing up from either side.
Both teams – which have unchanged squads – need all the points they could acquire to stay in the title race, so a keen affair is expected.
In Bridgetown, Barbados: The Pride and the Red Force are tied for second place and will be looking to separate themselves from each other at Kensington Oval.
Both nailed morale-boosting wins over the Scorpions and the Hurricanes respectively, and this weekend’s match-up could be the litmus test about the strength and the depth of their sides.
Recent history favours the Pride. They have won six of the last seven matches between the two sides and seemed destined to make it a perfect 7-of-7 in their tournament opener against last season, but for the intervention of weather in Port-of-Spain.
Both sides are unchanged from the previous round, which means batting will be the strength for the Pride and bowling for the Red Force, so it will come down to how well the visitors’ batting copes with the home team’s bowling.
In Providence, Guyana: Chart-toppers Jaguars will be hoping that home advantage will again breed success, as they try to resist being blown off track by the Hurricanes at the Guyana National Stadium.
Jaguars romped to a comfortable victory on home soil in the opening round, at the same time that the Hurricanes stumbled to defeat inside three days in their own backyard.
Current form and recent history strongly favour the home team, as the Jaguars, whose 13-member squad is unchanged, have won six of their previous 10 matches against this opponent, including the corresponding fixture last season.
The Hurricanes, whose side is also unchanged, have little upon which to hang their hats in terms of previous record and will have to play out of character to deliver a knock-out punch to their hosts.
Squads:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Windward Islands Volcanoes
(AT SABINA PARK, JAMAICA)
SCORPIONS (from): Paul Palmer Jr (captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Dave Bernard Jr, John Campbell, Jason Dawes, Kirk Edwards, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, Andre McCarthy, Nikita Miller, Marquino Mindley, Nicholson Gordon, Chadwick Walton
Squad unchanged
VOLCANOES (from): Liam Sebastien (captain), Sunil Ambris, Alston Bobb, Miles Bascombe, Keddy Lesporis, Mervyn Matthew, Kyle Mayers, Kevin McClean, Kenroy Peters, Dalton Polius, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Tyrone Theophile
Squad unchanged
UMPIRES: Christopher Taylor, Zahid Bassarath (Trinidad & Tobago)
MATCH REFEREE: Denovan Hayles
RESERVE UMPIRE: Christopher Wright
Barbados Pride vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force
(AT KENSINGTON OVAL, BARBADOS)
PRIDE (from): Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Kemar Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Kyle Corbin, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Kevin Stoute, Jomel Warrican
Squad unchanged
RED FORCE (from): Rayad Emrit (captain), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Shannon Gabriel, Kyle Hope, Kavesh Kantasingh, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley, Yannick Ottley, Daniel St. Clair
Squad unchanged
UMPIRES: Gregory Brathwaite, Verdayne Smith (Jamaica)
MATCH REFEREE: Stephen Proverbs
RESERVE UMPIRE: Troy Tudor
Jaguars vs Hurricanes
(AT THE GUYANA NATIONAL STADIUM)
JAGUARS (from): Leon Johnson (captain), Chris Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Shemron Hetymer, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh
Squad unchanged
HURRICANES (from): Steve Liburd (captain), Nelson Boland, Nkrumah Bonner, Kacey Carty, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daron Cruickshank, Jahmar Hamilton, Alzarri Joseph, Shane Jeffers, Jaison Peters, Orlando Peters, Sherwin Peters, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge, Devon Thomas
Squad unchanged
UMPIRES: Nigel Duguid, Patrick Gustard (Jamaica)
MATCH REFEREE: Colin Stuart
RESERVE UMPIRE: Shannon Crawford