ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson believes despite their heavy defeat to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the Regional Super50 Cup final, the tournament was still a “success” for his side.
Jaguars were hoping to break a 16-year drought in the 50-overs competition but went down by 152 runs in last Saturday’s final at Coolidge Cricket Ground, after failing to chase down a massive target of 363 runs.
Pointing to the performances of the batting group and the outstanding efforts of left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie who ended as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps, Johnson said there had been reason for Jaguars to hold their heads high.
“I think [the tournament] was a success. Obviously we would’ve loved to go one better and win the tournament but getting to the final is an achievement in itself,” said the long-standing skipper.
“We had three centuries in the tournament, Motie finished with the most wickets and (Kevin) Sinclair backed up his very good season [in 2019] and got a call to the West Indies team so it’s not the end of the world.
“We would’ve loved to come out on the winning side but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Johnson was one of the three Jaguars batsmen to reach triple figures with the others being veteram all-rounder Chris Barnwell and West Indies batting star Shimron Hetmyer.
The 21-year-old Sinclair, meanwhile, who starred with 13 wickets in the last Super50 Cup in 2019 for West Indies Emerging Players, claimed only five wickets but his economy rate of 3.48 was outstanding, and earned him a spot in the West Indies side to face Sri Lanka in the white ball series starting later this week. Johnson also praised Motie’s performance and said he expected the 25-year-old to play international cricket soon.
“[He’s] definitely [one for the future]. He’s represented West Indies at the youth level and the A-team level as well. (Veerasammy) Permaul was missing for the majority of the tournament and he really stepped up and did well,” Johnson pointed out.
Despite winning the toss and opting to bowl first on a good track in Saturday’s final, Johnson said there were no regrets about the decision-making as Jaguars had simply not stepped up their game.
“I fully back the decision to bowl first. They put up [362]. I think the wicket was still good but I think the execution of our shots early in the power-play cost us,” Johnson explained.
“You saw down at the back end how easy it was when Raymond (Reifer) and Gudakesh were batting as well.”
Jaguars slumped to 55 for six in their run chase before Reifer hit an unbeaten 97 to provide a face-saving rearguard action, which included a 71-run, ninth wicket stand with Motie who made 28.