A plethora of stars will be on show over the next three days beginning from today at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground when the Leon Johnson-led Clive Lloyd Super Cats team takes on Narsingh Deonarine’s Rohan Kanhai Strikers for the prestigious President’s Trophy and $200,000 first prize.
The above mentioned teams along with the Lance Gibbs Tigers which will be led by West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon will compete for the first prize in a competition that is being used to replace the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) three-day Inter-County competition for the first time.
Johnson will definitely be looking to start this competition on a high, especially with the star-studded Tigers’ line-up waiting in the wings to oppose the winner in the next game at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground Bourda, from October 21-23.
To this effect, Johnson will have at his disposal, players in the calibre of former West Indies under-19 opener Richard Ramdeen along with 2008 West Indies under-19 players in vice captain Steven Jacobs and left arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
Add the likes of Homchand Pooran, Norman Fredericks, Vishal Singh, who recently returned from England where he played with Sandwich Cricket Club, and the ever-consistent Ranga Lachigadoo, and Johnson will have a batting line up that can post close to 350 batting first on the small, but lightning-fast DCC outfield.
There are also the talented Delbert Hicks, Dion Ferrier and former national under-19 wicket keeper batsman Delroy Jacobs along with national off spinning all rounder Zaheer Mohammed who are all no rabbits with the bat.
The bowling department is well stocked too as Johnson can call on the services of fast bowlers Esaun Crandon, Trevor Benn and national under-17 selectee Keon Joseph who is undoubtedly the fastest youth bowler in the country at the moment.
The spin department rest on the shoulders of Permaul, Jacobs, Ferrier and Singh, with Johnson offering support with his leg breaks.
Deonarine’s Strikers will be expected to give a good account of themselves, with a batting line up that consists of the skipper himself who is looking at a West Indies recall, along with former Guyana and West Indies under-19 middle order batsman Gajanand Singh, former national under-15 batsman Ravi Sarwan along with the explosive national opener Royston Crandon.
Add Maxie De Jonge, Yogeshwar Lall, the stylish Essequibo middle order batsman, Orin Forde, the hard working Rakesh Goberdhan, Sauid Drepaul and national under-19 wicket keeper Anthony Bramble and a strong reply can be expected to whatever target is being posted by the Super Cats.
The bowling can cause some trouble to the Super Cats, led by Essequibo’s captain Trevon Garraway who extracted lots of bounce form the same Queenstown wicket when DCC and Malteenoes Sports club (MSC) clashed in the first round of the GCB/ Gafsons national 20/20 competition last Friday.
His support will come from GCC’s Jason Benn, national under-19 fats bowler Keyron Fraser and the talented Berbice al rounder Paul Wintz. Deonarine, Goberdhan, Drepaul, Forde, Sarwan and Singh can all handle the spin bowling duties effectively.
According to a press release issued by the GCB, incentives will be awarded to individuals for their sterling contributions, such as the batsman with the most runs and the bowler with the most wickets. The runners-up will pocket $150,000 and the third place team $100,000.
The release further stated that former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Reon King who along with his fast bowling compatriot Colin Stuart held a three day clinic for fast bowlers last week, will be the manager/coach for the Tigers, whilst Orin Bailey and Albert Smith are the men in charge of the Strikers and Super Cats respectively.
This competition is being used as a yard stick to select the national team that will participate in the upcoming 2008/2009 Regional Carib Beer cricket series, which is scheduled to commence sometime this year end.
Today’s encounter starts at 9.30am.
