PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Captain Christopher Barnwell says Guyana’s loss to Jamaica will help to boost team confidence as his players prepare to go into battle in the semi-finals of the NAGICO Super50 tournament.
Guyana, despite its 10-run defeat at the hands of the Jamaicans in the final preliminary round match, have moved into the round of four to play Barbados in the second semi-final set tomorrow.
“We were disappointed after that loss to Jamaica, but it helped boost our confidence for the rest of the tournament at the same time, going into our semifinal match with the same mood and frame of mind, which is a confident one to win,” said Barnwell.
Guyana have been affected as a result of illness to a number of players namely – Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson and Assad Fudadin.
However, the captain says the four players are recuperating well and will be ready for action tomorrow.
“The guys are coming along okay and will be ready to go in the semifinal clash on Thursday,” said Barnwell in an interview with The Chronicle.
“Everybody has been putting his shoulders to the wheel since we got here, as the winning of the title is the ultimate goal.”
The Guyanese last won a Regional List ‘A’ title nine years ago when they claimed the inaugural WICB KFC Cup.
A confident-looking Barnwell says his players are raring to go in their semifinal clash with Barbados.
“We came here to play hard cricket and we know that the other teams will be doing the same, so we do not expect anything to be given to us. We want to win this tournament and we know that in order for us to do so we have to play good cricket from the first ball to the last,” said Barnwell.
“As I said, nothing will be handed to us easily and we have to outplay and outsmart the opposition in every department, if we intend to come out victorious and take the trophy back to Guyana after February 15.”