Jamaica seek revenge against champions Barbados
JAMAICA will be on the hunt for revenge when they clash with League champions Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown in the semifinal of the Regional Four- Day tournament today. In the other semi-final, Trinidad & Tobago host Windward Islands at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. Squads — Tamar Lambert (capt), John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Marlon Samuels, Andre McCarthy, Carlton Baugh, Damion Jacobs, Nikita Miller, Jerome Taylor, Sheldon Cotterell, David Bernard Jnr, Brian Buchanan. Barbados — Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Omar Phillips, Kevin Stoute.
Play in both semi-final games is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am Jamaica time. Jamaica, who were defeated embarrassingly at home to Barbados during a three-game losing skid in the preliminary stage, ended fourth in the league standings with 59 points.
Last year’s winners Barbados took the 2013-14 President’s Trophy after finishing top of the league standings with 82 points, followed by Trinidad & Tobago (80) and Windward Islands (65).
The Combined Campuses and Colleges finished fifth with 49 points, ahead of Leeward Islands (42) and last-placed Guyana (29). Jamaica’s left-arm orthodox slow bowler Nikita Miller, who was delighted after a dramatic win over the Combined Campuses that propelled the team into the semis, told the that the aim is to avenge the loss to Barbados.
“We are playing against Barbados and they are tough opponents.
They have beaten us so far this season at home. We are looking to make amends and put in a good show against them,” said Miller, while adding that improvement is expected from a faltering batting unit. Miller noted the resilience shown against the Combined Campuses — a team that has never beaten Jamaica outright in a Four-day game.
According to Miller, Jamaica, the most successful Four-Day team of the last decade, just “couldn’t afford” to miss out on the semi-final. After winning the President’s Trophy and retaining the tag of regional title-holder, the marauding Barbados team is regarded by many to be the favourite among the top four to now land the Headley/Weekes Trophy.
Barbados head coach Hendy Springer lauded his team for exhibiting professionalism and commitment, but said “the focus is to look to win the game” against Jamaica. “We will treat them with respect, but we will look to play some strong cricket,” Springer continued. The Headley/Weekes Trophy is named in honour of West Indies batting legends George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes.
Jamaica