PCL,Tension-filled weekend ahead, as Jaguars, Pride chase title

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Anxious. Nervous. Tense. These are just three of the adjectives that may grip the players from Guyana Jaguars and Barbados Pride, as they follow the progress of each other in the final round of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament, starting tomorrow.
The race for the George Headley/Everton Weekes Trophy, symbol of regional first-class supremacy, has come down to a straight fight between these two franchises, following intriguing results in the previous round that left the Jaguars clinging to a seven-point lead over the Pride, as they seek to regain the title for the second straight year.
The familiar surroundings of the Guyana National Stadium will provide the backdrop for the Jaguars’ final sprint to the title, when they face Jamaica Scorpions, at the same time that the Pride will meet a resurgent Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

The other match in the round between Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Cricket Centre in Trinidad will be of academic interest only.

In Providence, Guyana: The Jaguars will be looking to find the form and confidence that propelled them early this season when they tackle a Scorpions side, whose inconsistency throughout the Tournament, could make them dangerous opposition.

The Jaguars will enter the match with a few doubts after they clung on for a draw in the previous round against the Hurricanes and will also have to deal with the burden of pressure of playing for the title, while the Scorpions, winners over the Volcanoes last weekend and with no title ambitions, will look to complete a strong finish to the season.

Jaguars captain Leon Johnson said there was some pressure on his side to hold their nerve and see things through until the end.

“We are playing at home, we are defending champions and we have all to lose,” he said. “There is a little bit of pressure, but we just need to put that behind us and play a good game of cricket.

“We have done it for nine matches and remained unbeaten, although in the last four matches we have not batted as well as we would have liked, but we have discussed it in our meetings and will be looking to rectify it in this match.”
Johnson added: “In the second half of the season, we have not batted well in the first innings, where there are bonus points on offer, and we have only gained four batting points in the last three matches out of a possible 15 – and that’s where we have let ourselves down.

“We have not lost for the season however. We have been able to draw games because we have been able to bat better in the second innings, but we need to put bigger totals on the board in the first innings.”

The Jaguars have won their last three matches against the Scorpions, but this venue has not quite delivered the results against this opponent that would boost their confidence.

The two sides have contested only three matches here – each side has won once and the Scorpions performed strongly in the third contest which ended in a draw.

“Bowling well will be the key for us this weekend,” said Johnson. “We have to take 20 wickets to win the game and ensure we retain the title, but I think how well we bowl will determine the outcome.

“The Scorpions obviously batted very well in the previous game and they have a quality batting line-up with players like Kirk Edwards, Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Thomas and John Campbell, so we will have to try to put them under pressure.”

Both sides will be missing key players – injury has sidelined veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul and fast bowler Ronsford Beaton for the Jaguars, as well as champion left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, the season’s leading bowler, for the Scorpions.

As a result of Chanderpaul’s absence, the hosts have brought ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Shimron Hetmyer back into their squad.

In Basseterre, St. Kitts: The Pride have few or no issues and will hope the momentum they have built over the second half of the season will continue, allowing them to prevail over the Hurricanes and surge to the title.
The Pride are coming off a crucial win against the Red Force in the previous round – it was their fifth in the last six matches they have played – but Hurricanes have shown some fight in recent games, even coming close in the last match to toppling the Jaguars and killing their chances of retaining the title.

Pride captain and West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite said his side was however, confident of doing what it takes to clinch the title.

“We do not want to enter the game underestimating the Hurricanes,” he said. “Once we go into it with the right mindset, which I know we will, we should be able to come out on top.
“The key for us will be to remain disciplined. We need to stick to our plans, build pressure around them and we will win it. We must not become complacent. We need to give 110 per cent. These will be the keys for us going out there and trying to win this last game.
“We have been pretty consistent – batting and bowling – and in the field everybody is always willing to do a job for the team. When it is not one player, it is another leading from the front, so I am very satisfied with the way the team is playing which is good for our cricket and we just need to finish strong.”
The Pride have comfortably won their last seven matches against the Hurricanes, including the first leg game this season on home soil – and have overcome a near 30-point deficit to the Jaguars to put themselves in title contention – so they are heavily favoured against their hosts, whose regular captain Nkrumah Bonner will be missing.
In Couva, Trinidad: This match will be a chance for players from the Red Force and the Volcanoes to enhance their aggregates, averages and reputations.
Both sides are reeling following defeats in the previous round and will seek to close out disappointing seasons with success.

There was a time when the Volcanoes would approach a match in the two-island republic with trepidation, but they have shrugged this off over the last few seasons, as they have won four of the last six matches between the two sides, including this corresponding fixture last season.

Squads:

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes

(AT THE NATIONAL CRICKET CENTRE, TRINIDAD)
RED FORCE (from): Yannick Ottley (captain), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Rayad Emrit, Justin Guillen, Kyle Hope, Jon-Russ Jagessar, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Ewart Nicholson, Marlon Richards, Jeremy Solozano

IN–Guillen, OUT–Jason Mohammed
VOLCANOES (from): Liam Sebastien (captain), Sunil Ambris, Roland Cato, Kerron Cottoy, Larry Edwards, Kavem Hodge, Delorn Johnson, Mervin Matthew, Kyle Mayers, Gidron Pope, Jerlani Robinson, Devon Smith, Tyrone Theophile

Unchanged

UMPIRES: Peter Nero, Gregory Brathwaite (Barbados)

MATCH REFEREE: Hayden Bruce

RESERVE UMPIRE: Lyndon Rajkumar

Guyana Jaguars vs Jamaica Scorpions
(AT THE NATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM, GUYANA)
JAGUARS (from): Leon Johnson (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Rajendra Chandrika, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh

IN–Hemtyer, Jacobs; OUT–Ronsford Beaton, Shvinarine Chanderpaul

SCORPIONS (from): Paul Palmer (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Gavon Brown, Dennis Bulli, John Campbell, Jason Dawes, Kirk Edwards, Nicholson Gordon, Damion Jacobs, Andre McCarthy, Aldaine Thomas, Devon Thomas, Shacaya Thomas

IN–Bulli; OUT–Nikita Miller

UMPIRES: Shannon Crawford, Leslie Reifer Jr (Barbados)

MATCH REFEREE: Colin Stuart

RESERVE UMPIRE: Imran Moakan

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Barbados Pride
(AT WARNER PARK, ST. KITTS)
HURRICANES (from): Orlando Peters (captain), Nelson Boland, Kacey Carty, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daron Cruickshank, Colin Hamer, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Jeremiah Louis, Orlando Peters, Kieran Powell, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge

IN– Boland; OUT–Nkrumah Bonner

PRIDE (from): Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Omar Phillips, Kemar Roach, Kevin Stoute, Hayden Walsh Jr, Jomel Warrican