Upper Corentyne will today oppose neighbors Lower Corentyne in what is billed as one of the biggest One Day matches to be played in recent times when the final of the Inaugural Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI)/Local Franchise League (LFL) competition bowls off under lights at the Albion Community Center ground.
Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam has been a force throughout this competition and they have played undefeated securing their spot in this evening’s final after steamrolling the other rival teams.
Upper Corentyne on the other hand has lost just one match in the competition but are currently the team to beat in terms of their respective recent form.
Both sides have played brilliant cricket so far in the competition with Upper Corentyne showing their capabilities to utilize their power-hitters and their barrage of spinners while their opponents have also be up to the task in both departments.
Another plus for both sides is the return of their marquee Guyana Jaguars players who have returned from the PCL four-day tourney. Veerasammy Permaul, the left-arm spinner will represent New Amsterdam while the pair of Assad Fudadin, the team’s skipper and wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble will be on show for Upper Corentyne.
Batting-wise, Upper Corentyne has been excellent with the likes of Johnathan Foo, Rajiv Ivan, Sharaz Ramcharran and Jason Sinclair the consistent run-getters. Foo has already amassed a century and a few fifties while Ivan has also notched up a few half-centuries.
Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam will bank on the experienced former national batsman Gajanand Singh along with the La Fleur brothers, Joemal and Eugene, who have been the core of the batting department along with Kandasammy Surujnarine and Royston Crandon.
From a bowling perspective, both sides have a lethal barrage of spinners who have been certain match-winners for them thus far. Ramcharran, off-spinner Eon Hooper, Foo and as of recent Fudadin with his medium pace, have been amongst the wickets for Upper Corentyne.
Meanwhile, Crandon, a former West Indies ODI player, the La Fleur brothers and veteran spinner Devon Clements, collectively have helped their team to wins when it was necessary and with Permaul hitting form in the recent Regional four-day tournament, ending the first leg with 17 wickets from four games, they will certainly be a handful on the Albion track which should duly assist their spin variations.
Given how both teams played so far, it’s likely that the match might be a low-scoring encounter and with the final innings being played under lights, it’s also safe to say the captain who wins the toss should definitely look to bat and put the other team under pressure.
The first ball is expected to bowl off at 14:00hrs.
