Defending joint champs Barbados face HPC at Everest

Oct 19, 2011 Sports

Barbados have reached more Regional 50-overs finals (17) than any other team since beating Trinidad and Tobago in the final of the first two tournaments in 1976 and 1977.
However, the Bajans who registered a tie in last year’s final in Jamaica against the Leewards, have just five titles and today they begin the Regional Super 50 challenge against a spirited Sagicor HCP team.

Veerasammy Permaul

Last year when the Barbados based HPC side made its debut at this level Guyanese Rajendra Chandrika and Kieran Powell had a 101-run opening partnership against Guyana but they were the only HPC batsmen to record half-centuries in the tournament with Chandrika scoring two.
In their washed out game last year, Chandrika scored 52 against the Bajans and will look forward to today’s encounter on his home ground.
In 1997 Brian Lara, Richard Smith and Andy Jackson all scored centuries as T&T made 409-6 against Northern Windwards and while the only other total over 350 in the competition is the 367-4 by the Leewards against Canada in 2008 at Everest the spinners are expected to enjoy the Camp Road surface today
Guyanese left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, Jamaican leg-spinner Nkruma Bonner and Vincentian leggie Keron Cottoy could make scoring difficult for the Barbadians who are without their newest Test player Kirk Edwards, his unrelated name sake Fidel and Kemar Roach, due to West Indies duties.
Kevin McLean, Delorn Johnson and Guyanese Test pacer Brandon Bess are capable of picking up early wicket for HPC who are without Powell, who replaced injured Ramnaresh Sarwan in the West Indies team to Bangladesh.
Ryan Hinds leads the Bajan batting and should also play an important role with his left-arm spin while batting support should come from Skipper Kenroy Williams, Dwayne Smith, Rashidi Boucher, Kyle Hope, Dale Richards and Patrick Browne.
Jonathon Carter and Carlos Braithwaite, who both wanted to represent CCC instead of Barbados, are capable of contributing with the bat for Barbados who will expect an early break through from pacer Tino Best.
Out of favor Test left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, Hinds and off-spinner Ashley Nurse, not considered fit enough for West Indies duties but still picked for Barbados, could cause the most problems with the ball for Barbados today.

Sulieman Benn

Chandrika, Sharmarh Brooks, Kyle Corbin, Andre Creary, Devon Thomas and little wicket keeper Shane Dowrich can produce good scores while towering pacer Jason Holder and the lively Shannon Gabriel present the HPC side with pace options as they hunt their first victory at this level in their fourth game after a loss and two washed out matches in Jamaica last year.
Barbados twice scored totals in excess of 285 in the 2008 competition in Guyana but today they could be tested by an HPC unit which is brimming with confidence after winning all six of their matches on their tour to Dubai earlier this month including a four wicket win against the Senior West Indies team. The game is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs and admission is free.