The Guyana Malta Supreme Senior team will today commence their tenth Regional 50-over title hunt when they clash with the unpredictable Ireland in the second match of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) NAGICO Super50 tournament.
Being held in Trinidad and Tobago, the match will be contested under the Queen’s Park Oval lights and will be Guyana’s most challenging encounter as they will be wary of the Irish and the fighting spirit that they bring to the field.
Ireland is led by opener William Porterfield and coached by former West Indies player Phil Simmons and are no strangers to the Caribbean after competing in the 2007 one-day World Cup here and the T20 format. The team comprises players who have strong first-class statistics in the English county arena.
The batting department for the Irish will depend heavily on the likes of Porterfield and his probable opening partner Paul Stirling whose pugnacious approach to the game is needed to set the foundation.
Former England opening batsman Ed Joyce who has nearly 14,000 first-class runs, has returned to his birth country of Ireland, re-establishing himself as a key figure in the team’s top order. He will be backed by the likes of the brothers O’Brien, wicket-keeper Niall and the more destructive Kevin who struck a record 50-ball century against England, the fastest in World Cup history.
Support will also come from the likes of Gary Wilson, Alex Cusack, John Mooney and Max Sorensen who will provide tons of firepower in the batting line-up. The bowling unit features a few all-rounders such as Tim Murtagh, leg-break bowler Andrew McBrine and the 21-year old left-arm orthodox George Dockrell, who might just be the best bowler in the team.
Guyana on paper is probably the strongest in terms of all-round talent and experience. With West Indies all-rounder Christopher Barnwell as its skipper, Guyana can pose a threat to the other teams in the tournament if they fire on all cylinders.
Barnwell who was in cracking form throughout last year, has recently been listed in the West Indies T20 provisional squad for the upcoming T20 championship. His deputy is the most capped West Indies Test player Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Openers Trevon Griffith and debutant Robin Bacchus will look to cash in on their roles as two young left-handers and will be keen on setting a foundation for the rest of the line.
A strong middle-order featuring Ramnaresh Sarwan, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine and Royston Crandon, who have all represented the West Indies at the various levels, will be counted on to perform heavily, while wicket-keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble will look to chip in in both departments.
The bowling will be spearheaded by pacers Ronsford Beaton and Paul Wintz, while the spin pair of leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul will seek to work in tandem during the middle overs.
Guyana last held the 50-over Regional title back in 2005 when they overcame Barbados under the fading light, courtesy of Sewnarine Chattergoon’s century in the KFC Cup final played at the Bourda ground.
Defending champions Windward Islands, head Zone A along with Jamaica, Guyana and Ireland, while Zone B consists of Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Leeward Islands.
Guyana: Christopher Barnwell (captain), Shiv Chanderpaul (vice-captain), Anthony Bramble (wicket-keeper), Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Ramnaresh Sarwan; Esuan Crandon (coach).
Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young; Phil Simmons (coach).
