With the threat of rain behind the sails of Caribbean Airlines and left in St. Lucia, Guyana Amazon Warriors are in St. Kitts and Nevis where they will battle home side, Patriots today from 19.00 hours.
Warriors looked like a renewed side in their opening match but rain would have the final say.
The explosiveness of Azam Khan and Saim Ayub has left Warriors fans drooling at the mouth and reigniting the familiar chants of “this year is we year.”
However, with the duo showing promise early on, it would be interesting to see if the Warriors think-tank will bench Chandrapaul Hemraj, who has not shifted gear in recent times.
That could mean Shai Hope potentially batting at number three and Shimron Hetmyer coming in at number four. Should this formula give Warriors a good start and counter Patriots’ bowling attack of Corbin Bosch, Sheldon Cottrell, Izharulhaq Naveed, Oshane Thomas, Blessing Muzarabani and George Linde, it could set up for a boost in the death with the likes of Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith in the firing range.
Warriors will need to be equally up to the task with the ball as despite a batting collapse early on when Patriots played defending champions, Jamaica Tallawahs last night, the boast players of the caliber of Andre Fletcher, Sherfane Rutherford, Ambati Rayudu and Evin Lewis in their ranks.
Rayudu’s presence comes at a valuable time in the absence of high-calibre players such as Dwayne Bravo, Dewald Brevis and Chris Gayle.
Similarly, Warriors are under new leadership in the experienced Imran Tahir who will be looking to Shepherd his troops to a maiden title in their 11th attempt and will no doubt bring a different spin to the biggest party in support as he teams up with consultant coach, Lance Klusener.
GAW: Imran Tahir (captain), Kevlon Anderson, Azam Khan, Ronsford Beaton, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Mohammad Haris, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Nandu, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Saim Ayub, Romario Shepherd, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Odean Smith
Patriots: Oshane Thomas, Sherfane Rutherford, Ambati Rayudu, Ashmead Nedd, Geoge Linde, Evin Lewis, Johann Layne, Kofi James, Izharulhaq Naveed, Jyd Goolie, Andre Fletcher, Dominic Drakes, Joshua Da Silva, Sheldon Cottrell, Yannic Cariah, Corbin Bosch, Blessing Muzarabani