The two teams meet in a second round WICB regional four-match day at Grove Park today with Barbados looking to rebound from a five-wicket defeat CCC inflicted on them last season.
CCC also shocked the regional powerhouses in their debut outing at this level in 2008 when they completed an upset victory by 24 runs in only their second match of the competition.
Barbados, who won when the sides met in the first round of last year’s expanded competition, will, therefore be looking to even the score in the fourth match between the two sides.
CCC, however, are keen on maintaining a winning trend, having come off a surprise win against Trinidad and Tobago in the opening round of the competition at Jarrett Park.
The Floyd Reifer led unit, which includes several Barbadians, will be brimming with confidence following their 151-run victory that was set up by a 12-wicket match haul from left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh.
Barbados, winners of the regional first-class competition a record 20 times, have been susceptible to spinners in recent seasons and CCC will test them with a diet of slow stuff.
In addition to Kantasingh, who grabbed six wickets in both innings against Trinidad and Tobago, off-spinner Ryan Austin, last year’s leading wicket-taker, will be itching to get at the Bajans.
CCC got solid contributions with the bat from opener Omar Phillips against Trinidad and Tobago with his 88 and unbeaten 70 but will be hoping that their other batsmen show some form this time around.
Phillips, who made his Test debut for West Indies against Bangladesh last year when the leading players were unavailable, will have fond memories of Grove Park where he made a career-best 204 against the Leeward Islands last year.
Barbados, who conceded first innings lead against the Leewards in their opening fixture of this year’s tournament at Kensington Park, will aim to lift the game.
Captain Ryan Hinds, their most consistent batsman in recent seasons, will want to stamp his authority after missing out in the first match, while fast bowler Kemar Roach, who created a big impression on the West Indies’ recent tour of Australia, is still searching for his first wicket of the competition.
Both teams fine tuned preparations for the match yesterday with Barbados having a practice session in the morning, while CCC trained in the afternoon.
TEAMS (from):BARBADOS – Ryan Hinds (captain), Dale Richards, Jason Haynes, Kirk Edwards, Kyle Hope, Kevin Stoute, Shamarh Brooks, Patrick Browne, Kemar Roach, Tino Best, Nikolai Charles, Pedro Collins, Rashidi Boucher.
CCC – Floyd Reifer (captain), Omar Phillips, Simon Jackson, Kyle Corbin, Nekoli Parris, Romel Currency, Chadwick Walton, Kevin McClean, Ryan Austin, Kavesh Kantasingh, Jason Bennett, Gilford Moore.
