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WICB PCL Regional 4-Day: Jaguars have advantage in Jamaica’s backyard
Veerasammy Permaul
By Sean Devers in Jamaica in association with Western Union, John Fernandes Ltd. and Payless Varity Store
Battle lines will be drawn from today as the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Four-Day first-Class Franchise resumes with fifth round matches in the largest City in the English speaking Caribbean when leaders, the Guyana Jaguars on 57 points face-off with second placed Jamaica, on 50 points in a top of the table clash.
Sabina Park in Jamaica’s capitol Kingston is the venue for the 65th contest between Guyana and Jamaica and the hosts will be aiming to register their 24th victory while the South American based team is hunting their 10th First-Class win against the team from Reggae Country.
The last time Guyana reaped success at this level was at this very ground in the 2002 Busta International Shield when a classy innings from Skipper Carl Hooper led Guyana to first innings points from the home team in the final.
However, the last of Guyana’s six Regional First-Class Championship wins was achieved in 1998 when they shared it with the Leewards. It was also on this ground in 1996 that Shiv Chanderpaul recorded a masterful 303 which is still the highest First-Class score in Regional cricket but it was here also that Guyana were bowled out for 41 in
Devendra Bishoo
1986 which remains their lowest total at this level.
Guyana’s first title was won in 1973 but it has been 17 years since the Guyanese have not tasted success in a Regional competition while the host, who captured their first title in 1969, have since won 11 other titles including five in a row from 2008.
Today, the Jaguars are strengthened by the return from South Africa of Skipper Leon Johnson and Narsingh Deonarine while the prolific Chanderpaul continues to be the most dependable batsman in the entire tournament and his hunger for runs remains the same as when he made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1991.
In addition to the Test trio, West Indies Under-19 opener Shemron Hetymer and the elegant Rajendra Chandrika will hope to give the Jaguars a firm foundation for Vice-Captain Vishaul Singh, who could bat at three, the three Test batsmen, One-Day captain Chris Barnwell and Wicket-Keeper Anthony Bramble to build on.
Deonarine is only behind Devon Smith in the runs aggregate with 306 runs including two centuries while Singh is the other Guyanese centurion in the competition when he registered his maiden ton against T&T’s Red Force in Port-of Spain. Both of Deonarine’s hundreds were made at Providence against the Leewards and the Windwards in Guyana’s first two matches.
The bulk of the bowling will be taken care of by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (21 wickets) and Narsingh Deonarine while Barnwell and West Indies ‘A’ team fast
Jermaine Blackwood
bowler Ronsford Beaton could provide pace options.
Without Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Nikita Miller, Marlon Samuels, Sheldon Cotterell and Jerome Taylor, who are all in the World Cup squad, Jamaica are the hardest hit team by the loss of players due to West Indies commitments and they will depend on Skipper Tamar Lambert, Jeremy Blackwood, John Campbell, Horace Miller, David Bernard, Nkrumah Bonner, Carlton Baugh and Shacaya Thomas with the bat.
Leg-spinner Damian Jacobs is Jamaica’s leading wicket taker with 18 wickets, fellow leg-spinner Odean Browne is also in the squad while former West Indies youth pacer Jason Dawes and 20-year-old pacer Marquino Mindely are wonderful fast bowling prospects for Jamaica who are hunting their 12th title at this level. The game is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs (11:00hrs Guy time) today.
GUYANA JAGUARS: Leon Johnson (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Narsingh Deonarine, Shemron Hetymer, Keon Joseph, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh.
JAMAICA FRANCHISE (from): Tamar Lambert (captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Dave Bernard Jr, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Gavon Brown, Odean Brown, John Campbell, Jason Dawes, Damion Jacobs, Horace Miller, Marquino Mindley, Shacaya Thomas.
UMPIRES: Christopher Wilson, Gregory Brathwaite (Barbados), MATCH REFEREE: Denovan Hayles, RESERVE UMPIRE: Athol Hamilton.
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