Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin and his Trinidad Red Steel opposite Dwayne Bravo are promising a pulsating clash as the Guyana leg of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 tournament kicks off here this evening.
At a brief press conference held at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday, the two respective skippers along with their coaches in Warriors’ Roger Harper and Red Steel’s Simon Helmot, declared that both sides were amped up and rearing to go in today’s contest to be played under lights.
All-rounder Bravo said that both countries “Know the importance of the game and have a mutual respect for each other”. He added that “both teams have good players and despite the Warriors beating them 2 out of 3 matches last year, it’s a new season”.
On the other hand a more restrained Ramdin admitted that despite both teams winning their opening match today’s encounter will be clinical for both camps, pointing out that his team stepped up their practice sessions over the past few days. “Both teams won their first game, but it will be an interesting game. Whoever handles the pressure well will come out on top”.
Meanwhile Harper said that he was “Happy to win the first game” despite it not being a convincing victory.
He said he expects the boys to progress in the matches to come. The Australian Helmot who seemed to be in higher spirits after his Trinidadian side pulled off a more convincing win said that he was confident of a good match and lauded the weather as well as the team’s practice session while noting that his team was without injuries and ready to go.
The Amazon Warriors who recorded a two-wicket win over the Antigua Hawksbills in the tournament’s opening match will look to be a bit more dominating during tonight’s encounter after having a scare from their lower-middle order in the team.
As expected, class spinner Sunil Narine, who was his usual miserly self, conceding three runs from his four overs, will be called upon again to blunt the onslaught expected to be launched by his fellow Trinidadians.
The likes of Veerasammy Permaul and New Zealand’s James Neesham, who grabbed 3-33 but failed to deliver with the bat, last year’s MVP Krishmar Santokie who was wicket-less along with Pakistan’s Mohammed Hafeez and pacer Ronsford Beaton who bowled well for his one wicket will be called upon again to deliver with the ball.
The batting department will depend heavily on the top order which consists of openers Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill along with the all-rounders, Neesham, Chris Barnwell, and Navin Stewart all of whom failed to kick-start in the opening game. Ramdin who top-scored with a vital 36-ball 51 and Pakistan’s Hafeez who chipped in with a quick 35 will look to maintain their form.
Led by robust half-centuries from Darren Bravo and Ross Taylor, the Red Steel boys looked more fluent than their Guyanese counterparts during their seven-wicket victory over the Barbados Tridents in their first match. The Trini top order like that of the Guyanese failed to flex their muscles leaving the middle order to complete the task.
The temperamental opening left-hand combination of Trinidadian Evin Lewis and Pakistani Nasir Jamshed will need to recover from their previous failure and step on the gas at an early stage as they are known for.
The middle order which features the Bravo Brothers, Dwayne and Darren along with Taylor, Nicholas Pooran, and Kevin O’Brien will look to spend some time in the middle.
The bowling department spearheaded by speedster Fidel Edwards features past and present West Indian bowlers in: ICC world ranked number one bowler Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, the controversial Kevon Cooper, the all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and O’Brien.
The advantage lies with the home side who were also last year’s finalists but Trinidad will fancy themselves against a side which is flooded with Trinidadians. The match gets underway at 17:00hrs.
