From Clifton Ross
in Trinidad
Malta Supreme Guyana will today look to take one more step towards lifting the Regional 50-over title for the 10th time when they face Barbados in the final semi-final of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/NAGICO Super-50 tournament.
The team, which did its final tune up yesterday in the nets before today’s important encounter, managed to win two out of their three preliminary group games before losing by 10 runs to Jamaica who were dismembered by host Trinidad and Tobago yesterday in their match.
Despite the flu bug affecting some of the players, skipper Christopher Barnwell will turn to the tournament’s leading run scorer Ramnaresh Sarwan who has so far amassed 151 runs from 2 matches to once again lead the way.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul who is seven runs behind Sarwan will also be called upon to fire alongside his opening partner Trevon Griffith.
Barnwell and Leon Johnson have put bowlers to the sword in previous games while Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin and Anthony Bramble will need to strengthen Guyana’s middle order.
Spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul have worked well in the middle and back end sessions, while fast-men Paul Wintz who has snared four scalps and Ronsford Beaton who used his pace an aggression to claim seven, have showed their class with the new ball for Guyana.
Barbados will depend heavily on century marker Jonathan Carter who was the first player to crack a century, 109 against Trinidad and Tobago.
Opener Dwayne Smith who scored 83 against the same team will look to provide a start. Despite the talent in the squad no other batsmen has so far made huge impressions with the bat. Their quick bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jason Holder will be keen on taking early wickets, while spinners such as Ashley Nurse and Sulieman Benn will work in tandem.
Today’s winner will face the hometown team Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday’s final encounter
GUYANA: Christopher Barnwell (captain), Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Anthony Bramble (wicket-keeper), Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz; Esuan Crandon (coach)
BARBADOS: Kevin Stoute (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich (wicket-keeper), Fidel Edwards, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Kenroy Williams; Hendy Springer (coach)
