CAPTAIN of the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team Omar Phillips says they have now grown into a formidable unit and he expects to strongly challenge title-holders Jamaica in this weekend’s four-day encounter at Chedwin Park in St Catherine.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday shortly after the team arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport, Phillips said this season’s performances in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional four-day competition are indicative of the CCC’s improvement.

“We’re now more mature guys and we’re gelling together. Though we are a young squad, we are understanding the game a lot better,” he said.

“So far, we’ve been working hard to get the points and there is still a lot to work…, but I think we’re starting to see some results,” said the opening batsman.

The CCC, fourth in the standings on 27 points, currently trail the table-topping Jamaicans by nine points and have already recorded victories over both the Windward and Leeward Islands.

Despite disappointing results against Jamaica in the past, Phillips said he is optimistic of coming out on top this time around.

“We’ve played them many times in the four-day format and we’ve had close games… we’ve never been over the hurdle of defeating them, but the guys are ready for the challenge.

“In my view, Jamaica is a very decent side, but I don’t think that there is much concern with them leading because the table is very close at the moment,” he said.

Asked whether or not there was a plan to stem the flow of runs from the in-form Marlon Samuels, the CCC captain suggested the stylish right hander may be due for a failure.

“It’s good to see a batsman at the top of his game, but it only takes one ball to dismiss him, so you never know… he could have a bad game now. He is a key batsman, but I think we are up for it,” Phillips said, adding that serious threat could also come from Wavell Hinds, Danza Hyatt and Jamaican skipper Tamar Lambert.

Samuels has struck three centuries in the competition so far this season, including an unbeaten double against Guyana in the first round of matches, and has amassed a total of 595 runs at an astonishing average of 99.16.

The CCC’s Kyle Corbin has so far had a standout season, compiling 323, including a top score of 108 against the Leeward Islands.

Spinner Ryan Austin, meanwhile, has topped the bowling charts with 18 wickets at 23.38 apiece and is expected to cause problems for the Jamaican batsmen on a Chedwin Park wicket renown for favouring spin.

Austin said he, along with fellow spinners Kavesh Kantasingh and Nkrumah Bonner, are looking forward to the prospect of bowling on a spin-friendly track.

“I’ve never played there (at Chedwin Park), but I’ve heard it’s a pretty flat wicket and obviously spins a lot, so I… feel that with our three spinners — myself, Kantasingh and Bonner — it’s going to be good for us because our main threat is our spin bowlers,” he said.

CCC squad — Omar Phillips, Romel Currency, Floyd Reifer, Raymond Reifer, Kyle Corbin, Ryan Austin, Kavesh Kantasingh, Nkrumah Bonner, Shacoya Thomas, Gilford Moore, Kevin Mclean, Carlos Brathwaite, Shervon Penco.