From Calvin Roberts
in Barbados
Compliments of Smalta, Cum-mings Electrical, Lifetime Realty, P&P Insurance, Cellular Plus and Hanes (Guyana) Limited
For one team Guyana, it will be redemption for the other, the Leeward Islands it may be revenge.
This could be the scenario when the two teams face off in their first game of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/ TCL-sponsored 2008 limited overs competition at Pine Basin, Wildey St. Michael today.
When they first met in the three-day competition, Gu-yana inflicted a five-wicket defeat on their opponents despite West Indies’ Under-19 opener Chesney Hughes’ 102.
The heroes for Guyana were debutant Jeetendra Sookdeo (77 and 53) and wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble (53).
Guyana’s coach Hubern Evans told Stabroek Sport that one of the positives his team can carry over into this tournament was the performance of the batsmen against Trinidad in the final match of the three-day competition.
“They displayed a more positive approach that was needed especially in the second innings of this encounter, but we need to be more aggressive in our cricket, be it fielding, batting, bowling or even our running between the wickets,” Evans said.
If the Guyanese are looking for redemption, there will definitely have to be all round improvement in their game which means that openers Royan Fredericks and Trevon Griffith will have to be in the same mindset as they were in the second innings against Trinidad and Tobago especially when the power plays are in session.
With the possibility that Sookdeo would not be able to take any further part in the tournament due to his injury, Dillon Heyliger should be used at number three as his power hitting would be an asset in this format of the game.
Hetmyer’s last innings when he scored the only century for the team in the three-day competition, indicated that he was getting back into form as his timing was sound during that innings against both the pace and spin. Captain Eugene La Fleur has been rock steady in the lower order with face saving innings, and he has the ability to go over the top when he chooses to.
The bowling has been up to standard in all the games, despite the few instances where complacency showed its unwelcome face.
But 16-year-old Keon Joseph has shown that the Guyana fast bowling cupboard is not empty with his raw pace that set tongues wagging whenever he was given the ball whilst Leon Scott, who played throughout the three-day competition with a sore back, has offered adequate support.
The spin department has had its ups and downs with the experienced Totaram Bishun experiencing difficulties with his faster ball along with his line and length whilst Herman Latcha has displayed tremendous maturity especially since being given advice from former national under-19 off spinner Sean Devers.
La Fleur, Royston Alkins and even Fredericks offer some support in the spin department whilst Heyliger and Hetmyer can be of great assistance to the fast bowlers.
The Leewards will be hoping that both Hughes and Powell get in some good scores, especially the latter, who has been included in the Stanford Twenty20 30-man squad. Add Jamal Hamilton, Kadeem Phillips, Sherwin Peters and Clinton Payne to the batting line up and coach Winston Benjamin would certainly be hoping for a turn in the tide for his team.
With Kelbert Walters being ruled out of the tournament after the first round match against the same opponents with a side strain, Tevin Osbourne will have the new ball in his hand and would be ably assisted by Kjel Tyson and Adelvin Phillip with the spin department being taken care of by the lanky left handed Turnell Turner who will be getting able suport from Clinton Payne.
Teams: Guyana: Eugene La Fleur (captain), Royan Fredricks, Trevon Griffith, Royston Alkins,Jeetendra Sookdeo, Seon Hetmyer, Dillon Heyliger, Anthony Bramble, Jonathan Foo, Herman latcha, Totaram Bishun, Leon Scott, Keon Joseph and Keyron Fraser.
Leeward Islands (from) Kieran Powell, Chesney Hughes, Sherwin Peters, Jamal Hamilton, Adfelvin Phillip, Kenroy David, Damion Williams, Tevin Osbourne, Turnel Turner, Shernyll Burns, Clinton Payne, Kadeem Phillip and Kjel Tyson.
