Test for weakened Ja
TITLE-HOLDERS Jamaica are expected to face a stiff test from visitors Guyana when both teams meet in the semi-final match of the regional fourday cricket tournament at Sabina Park, starting at 10:00 am today.
The Jamaicans, who are seeking to win the competition for a record fifth consecutive time, are without several senior members due to West Indies or overseas duty.
Wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh and batsman Marlon Samuels are joined in the regional team setup by the hard-hitting Danza Hyatt, who was a late call-up for the second and final Twenty20 (T20) International versus the touring Australians.
Experienced left-handers Christopher Gayle and Brendan Nash are unavailable due to contractual obligations in India and England, respectively.
Gayle cracked a superb 165 against the Windward Islands in his lone appearance this season, while the dependable Nash has an aggregate of 381 at a batting average of 63.50.
Guyana, captained by veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, are relatively strong on paper, though they are without mercurial middleorder batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who is also set to ply his trade in England.
Jamaican coach Junior Bennett said a disciplined showing from his players should ensure they get more points from the match than Guyana.
“We’re looking to execute efficiently and will try to get more points than our opponents so that we can reach the final. They always have a (high) quality team and of all the teams in the region, they haven’t lost anyone to the West Indies squad, so they are at full strength.
“They have played some good cricket at times, though perhaps they have been up and down,” he told the Jamaica Observer during a practice session at Sabina Park yesterday.
The Jamaica team won all six of its matches during the preliminary stage, including a comfortable eight-wicket win over Guyana in a day/night fixture in Antigua.
Jamaica’s skipper Tamar Lambert did not place much emphasis on the group result.
“It doesn’t matter if we beat them earlier this season. This is the semi-final so it is the business end of the competition. This is where it counts so hopefully we can continue playing some good cricket. Our form has been good throughout, but we still want to score more runs when we bat,” said the 30-year-old Lambert.
The home team’s batting should centre on Donovan Pagon, Lambert, Brenton Parchment and David Bernard.
Pagon has been the country’s top run scorer this season, compiling 392 runs, including a massive 155 against the Leeward Islands in round three. However, his average of 35.63 is indicative of his failure to consistently push on to big scores after getting starts.
The bowling department has been the team’s shining light with spinners Nikita Miller and Odean Brown terrorising the region’s batsmen.
Miller’s left-arm orthodox bowling has captured 36 wickets at an average of 11.33, while Brown’s haul of 29 victims at 14.41 is the best by a leg-spinner so far this year.
Seamers Bernard and Andrew Richardson have supported with 17 and 16 wickets, respectively.
The Sabina Park pitch, though having specks of grass along its length, looked hard yesterday and is expected to provide a fair contest between bat and ball.
In recent years, it has been known to offer decent pace and bounce for quick bowlers and sufficient turn for spinners.
Guyana’s coach Esuan Crandon is looking forward to a “tough match” against the favourites, but said his team will take a positive approach.
“Jamaica is a very good team and I’m expecting a tough match. They have a very good captain who has been leading the team well. Our players are looking to play positive cricket and will look to come out on top…,” Crandon said on Tuesday.
The Guyana outfit, which was fourth at the end of the preliminary stage after three wins, two losses and a draw, has the competition’s two leading run-getters.
Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Narsingh Deonarine leads the way with 547 runs. The 28-year-old left-hander has hit six half-centuries and averages 49.72.
Assad Fudadin, 26, is second on 538 runs, including two centuries at 53.80 per innings. The pair, along with Chanderpaul, is likely to be the main obstacle for the Jamaican bowling attack.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul has been the top bowler for Guyana this season with 28 wickets at 21.78. West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo and promising pacer Brandon Bess are also potential threats.
Jamaica (from) — Tamar Lambert (capt), Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment, Donovan Pagon, Jermaine Blackwood, David Bernard, Horace Miller, Nikita Miller, Andrew Richardson, Odean Brown, Sheldon Cotterell, Jamie Merchant, Simon Jackson.
Guyana (from) — Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), Leon Johnson, Trevon Griffiths, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Christopher Barnwell, Derwin Christian, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Royston Crandon, Brandon Bess, Ransford Beaton, Chanderpaul Hemraj.