PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will look to make good on their label as favourites but face a stern test from the formidable Guyana Jaguars, when the two sides renew their rivalry in the final of the NAGICO Super50 here today.
In addition to boasting their galaxy of stars including the Bravo brothers – Darren and Dwayne – along with Kieron Pollard and Ravi Rampaul, Red Force have also played unbeaten in the tournament, further adding to their aura and the huge expectations of their fans.
Beaten by Barbados in last year’s final, captain Rayad Emrit exuded confidence ahead of today’s final, stressing it was important Red Force went all the way this time around.
“It’s a good feeling to be in another final two years running. Obviously we want to go one step further this year and I think we have the team to do it,” Emrit told reporters.
“Guyana is always a tough opposition for us but we just have to continue playing good cricket.”
Red Force qualified for the final with a 41-run win over Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, in a rain-hit semi-final on Friday night, which was reduced to 32 overs per side.
The victory followed on from their Group B preliminary round campaign where they beat West Indies Under-19s by five wickets, nipped Jamaica by 17 runs before trouncing Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 49 runs.
Despite their form, Emrit said they would be taking nothing for granted against a dangerous Jaguars side which had topped Group A.
“We know they’re a tough side and they’re playing good cricket. They’ve lost one game in the tournament so far,” Emrit pointed out.
“We know where their strengths are. If we can get Shiv (Chanderpaul) out early, we know we will have a good chance.”
With a batting line-up led by Darren Bravo and includes Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, and the dashing opener Evin Lewis, and a bowling attack spearheaded by world class off-spinner Sunil Narine, Red Force will be expected to be more than a handful.
Jaguars, meanwhile, will be also full of confidence heading into the championship game. They have been inconsistent, however, crushing Windward Islands Volcanoes by 142 runs in their opening game, narrowly beating Guyana by two wickets but losing to CCC Marooners by one wicket in a dramatic last-over finish.
They beat Jamaica Franchise in their semi-final on Thursday to reach the final and captain Chris Barnwell now believes they have the potential to upset the home side.
“First of all, we have to blank their supporters out. Once we get them out of the way, that’s ok for us,” Barnwell said on the eve of the game.
“Playing Trinidad is always a challenge for us [as] they have a well-balanced unit but we just have to go out there, play good cricket and outplay them in all three departments. If we bowl, bat and field well, I think we should come out on top in the end.”
He continued: “We just have to hit our straps and they are some key wickets that we need to pick up early and once we pick them up early, we can put them on the back foot.”
Barnwell witnessed Red Force’s win over Marooners in the semi-final and said there were key mistakes which his side had to avoid.
“CCC let them off a bit by relaxing a bit and that is something we don’t want to do. Once we get a few wickets up front early, we just want to continue to pressure them and put them under some pressure and restrict them to a low total,” Barnwell explained.
“If we’re batting first, we can’t give them early wickets. They’re a team that strive on confidence and once we don’t give them an early look-in, that will play a major role.
Guyana will look to Chanderpaul, whose unbeaten 98 against Jamaica, put them in the final. All-rounder Raymon Reifer, Barnwell, along with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, will be all expected to play critical roles.
SQUADS:
T&T RED FORCE – Rayad Emrit (captain), Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Akeal Hosein, Stephen Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Jeremy Solozano, Nicholas Sookdeosingh.
GUYANA JAGUARS – Christopher Barnwell (captain), Ronsford Beaton, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajindra Chandrika, Royston Crandon, Jonathan Foo, Trevon Griffith, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh, Paul Wintz.