Rain expected as Guyana face Barbados

Oct 17, 2010 Sports

Injured Barnwell out of today’s match

By Sean Devers in Jamaica
In Association with Jamaica Pegasus,
Mike’s Pharmacy & Raphael’s Reality

After an unconvincing 3-run first round victory off the final ball against the High Performance Centre (HPC) Guyana will want an improved performance today when they face Barbados from 10:00hrs (Guyana time) at Sabina Park in the Regional 50-over cricket competition.
Guyana will be without all rounder Chris Barnwell today due to a hamstring injury while Royston Crandon’s participation could also be in jeopardy due to a finger injury sustained while taking a brilliant diving catch on Friday.
Rain here has resulted in sluggish pitches and heavy outfields for this competition and more rain is expected today as Guyana look to register their 2nd win and a semi-final place.
Barbados who beat the Leeward by 4 wickets on Friday will also aim to notch up win number two and a keen contest is anticipated on a track which could be slow but with bounce.
Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan batted well for 63 and added 101 for the 2nd wicket with debutant Richard Ramdeen who made 46 but apart from a sensible 30 from debutant Keeper Anthony Bramble and 22 from Steven Jacobs, the overall Guyana batting performance was disappointing.
Shiv Chanderpaul could not get the ball away in his 28-ball 4 while Narsingh Deonarine, the other Test batsman in the side, again failed.
Used as opener Barnwell fell early in the innings and then could not bowl due to a hamstring injury while Royston Crandon was quickly removed for one and seemed uncomfortable against the short balls, even on the slow track. If the pair is unable to play today then the headache will be finding an opening partner to Ramdeen.
Assad Fudadin could be asked to open the batting while Leon Johnson could return to the team with Jonathon Foo again being left out along with the injured Barnwell and Crandon.
For Guyana to post really big totals in conditions which should continue to prohibit free-scoring, Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Deonarine will have to bat well.
The last time Guyana met Barbados at this level, at Albion in Berbice last year, Deonarine scored a magnificent unbeaten 102 while Chanderpaul was looking ominous on 38 not out when Guyana achieved victory at 236-3 in 42.1 overs replying to the 231-9 made by the Bajans.
Leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul had three wickets each for Guyana but today Permaul is unavailable due to the questionable decision to rob the regional teams of those players in the HPC side.
Permaul is being missed in the Guyana spin bowling attack which comprise of just Bishoo and a string of batsmen who bowl off-spin in Deonarine, Royston Crandon and Jacobs.
Esuan Crandon has lost his pace but he is experienced and a hard worker and will hope that teenager Keon Joseph learns quickly with the new ball at this level, especially since Barnwell is unable to offer medium pace support today.
Teenager Kraigg Braithwaite is not expected to begin with all guns blazing and the new ball pair should try to give him most of the early strike especially since Dale Richards is expected to play ‘shots’ from ball one. The experience of Skipper Ryan Hinds is a danger for the South American bowlers, while 22-year-old West Indies ‘A’ team batsman Kirk Edwards looked very good in his unbeaten 68 against the Leeward Islands.
If the pugnacious Dwayne Smith gets going the few fans expected in the stands could be in trouble while Jonathon Carter, Kevin Stoute and Wicketkeeper Carlo Morris are all capable of runs at this level.
In Kemar Roach and Tino Best the Bajans have the firepower to exploit the discomfort shown by most Guyanese batsmen against hostile short-pitched bowling while Smith and Stoute could lend medium pace support.
Towering West Indies left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn will spearhead the Barbados attack and his 10 overs could be critical to the end result as will the batting of Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Deonarine for Guyana.
Barbados won the last of their 5 titles in 2002 and in the last 10 years has lost 4 of their five finals at this level, 3 times to Guyana, the last being in 2005 when Guyana won its last One-Day championship.
Despite their barren run in recent times, only double defending champions Trinidad and Tobago have more than Guyana’s 9 titles.