Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 25, 2021 Sports
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News – Today from 13:00hrs at the Coolidge ground in Antigua, Guyana Jaguars face-off with the Windwards Hurricanes in the second semi-final on an Island where Skipper Roy Fredricks’ century led them to their first 50-title in 1980 when they beat the Leewards in the final.
Since 2005, when Guyana copped their last of nine tittles with victory over Barbados at Bourda, they have suffered a 15-year title drought despite being the finalist on three occasions since then.
In 2018 when they lost a nail-biting contest at the 3Ws Oval by one wicket as the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) emerged Champions on their home ground was their last appearance in a final.
Guyana again lost in the 2014 final when were defeated by T&T who again beat them by 81 runs at Providence in 2009 under the Captaincy of Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Today the Jaguars, second on the points table to unbeaten T&T Red Force, oppose a team they destroyed by nine wickets in their last preliminary round game at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the only Day match.
Emmanuel Stewart, who reached the boundary four times in 46, while Bajan-born, Kevin Stoute managed just a single boundary in his 72-ball 41 but only Keron Cottoy, with three fours in 17 and Ryan John with 15 reached double figures at the Windwards fell for 153 against a dominant bowling attack led by Man-of-the Match Keon Joseph who bagged 4-24.
Left-arm spinner Chanderpaul Hemraj took 2-11 for Guyana who raced to a nine-wicket win; reaching 155-1 in 28.4 overs.
Hemraj hit seven fours and a six in an aggressive 41 and along with Tevin Imlach who played the supporting role with a well-constructed unbeaten 37 from 81 balls, added 62 inside the power-play before Hemraj was dismissed.
Shimron Hetmyer then blasted three fours and four sixes in 67 from 59 balls and featured in match winning unfinished 93-run second wicket stand with Imlach.
Today at a much smaller ground on a relatively good track the Windwards, with titles in 1989 (When beat Guyana by one wicket in a thriller in Grenada), 2000, 2013 and 2018, will hope for an improved batting performance and will bank on 27-year-old Sunil Ambris who has a ton and 13 List ‘A’ fifties with two in this tournament and 31-year-old Keron Cottoy who scored only two fifties at this level in this tournament.
Kevin Stoute’s highest score is 86, while his 172 runs is only one of three batsmen to reach 150 in the team but nobody has reached 200 runs.
Andre Fletcher, who played 25 ODIs, has been disappointing since although his highest score is 60, he made a duck against Guyana and has only managed 118 runs for five innings, while Montcin Hodge with 10 List ‘A’ fifties has returned to the Squad after playing one game against the Leewards.
The Windward’s bowling will hinge on pacer Ryan John, left-arm spinner Larry Edwards, left-arm pacer Preston Mc Sween, off-spinner Alick Athanaze and pacer Ray Jordan.
The Jaguars will be strengthened by the inclusion of left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and Bajan left-handed fast bowling all-rounder Raymond Reifer, who replaces Assad Fudadin and Kemol Savory respectively.
Imlach is the stabilizer at the top of the order and perfect foil for attacking Hemraj, Guyana’s leading run-scorer with 195 runs but his conversion rate has not been what he would have liked. He has only has one half-century but has been Guyana’s most consistent batsman and picked up crucial wickets.
Chris Barnwell and Skipper Leon Johnson are the Guyanese with centuries in the tournament.
However, Barnwell, who did not bat in the last game against the Windwards, has 170 runs while Johnson, arguable the best leader in the West Indies, missed the Jamaica game due to a hamstring injury and did not bat in the last game. Johnson has only made seven runs in his two other innings and after scoring an unbeaten 102 in the second round against the Leewards and needs to work on his consistency.
Hetmyer has scores of 80 and 62 not out but his other three innings produced just 20 runs and most of his dismissals continue to be aided by erratic shot selection. But with five ODI tons and one at Regional level the explosive but temperamental left-hander could be the biggest threat for the opposition moving forward in this tournament.
Romario Shepherd could also contribute with the bat as could spinners Kevin Sinclair, Permaul and Gudakesh Motie, while Joseph turned out a Man-of-the-Match performance in the last match.
Nail Smith is genuinely quick and was rested for the last game and could get some more rest today and brought back if Guyana qualifies for the Final.
Another option is to rest Anthony Bramble and ask Imlach to ‘Keep’but it’s a good headache to have to bring in two International players in a winning team.
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LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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