PCL Four-Day Cricket

Nov 06, 2015 Sports

Jaguars ready to roar! Battle Volcanoes today at Providence

By Sean Devers
Guyana will be looking to utalise home advantage to the fullest and another

The Jaguars involved in catching practice at Providence yesterday morning.

victory when they begin their title defense today against the Windwards Volcanoes in the opening round of the second edition of the WICB’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day First-Class Cricket Franchise.
A year ago, at this venue, Deonarine, who is now playing for T&T’s Red Steel, became only the third Guyanese to score a century and claim a five-wicket haul in the same match as he and Veerasammy Permaul, who bagged 8-36 in the second innings and 11-76 in the match helped the Jaguars to a 92-run win as the Volcanoes lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs.
This was after Deonarine’s 139 and 62 from Chanderpaul had given the hosts a first innings total of 291 despite collapsing from 263-3 when Deonarine was dismissed. Today, on what looks like another slow and low track, the two teams go into battle for the 37th time at this level with Guyana aiming for their 16th win against seven defeats and 14 draws.
The Jaguars, even without Deonarine, have a heavyweight batting line-up which includes four batsmen who have played Test cricket and Head Coach Esuan Crandon hopes his team can bat over 125 overs and post a score over 350.
And even on a track which could affect free scoring the home side which would be involved in 29th First-Class match at Providence, has the fire-power to put the Islanders under pressure if they bat first on the fast outfield.
Openers Rajendra Chandrika and Assad Fudadin will hope to give their team a firm foundation for skipper Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Raymon Reifer and the experienced Chanderpaul, who got 119 in his last match at Regional four-day level in Dominica against the same opposition last year, to build on.
The Jaguars’ bat deep with all-rounder Chris Barnwell, Keeper Anthony Bramble and spinner Steven Jacobs all top order batsmen for their clubs. The absence of their two leading spinners (Bishoo in Sri Lanka & Permaul out with an ankle injury) takes away some potency in their bowling attack but 20-year-old former West Indies under-19 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and Jacobs should bowl well in what is anticipated to be spin-friendly conditions.
West Indies U-19 batsman Shemron Hetymer could be the batsman to sit out but he is only 18 and time is on his side. On a track which could make fast bowling hard work Keon Joseph could squeeze his way into the team ahead of Ronsford Beaton.
Left-arm pacer Reifer, the only overseas pick in the squad for today’s match could share the new ball with the lively Joseph but they should be mindful of the Windwards’ best batsman Devon Smith who relishes fast bowling.
Without Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher who are in Sri Lanka with the West Indies, the left-hander Smith is the Volcanoes’ biggest threat. With 25 First-Class tons including a brutal 212 against Guyana in Grenada, Smith could be considered a ‘Regional Bully’.
Sunil Ambris (2014) and Skipper Liam Sebastien (2008) have both scored centuries on this ground while Tyrone Theophile added 131 for the first wicket with Smith when the sides last met in Dominica earlier this year.
Keddy Lesporis, Miles Bascombe, Bajan Kyle Mayers and Dalton Polius could all contribute with the bat for the visitors. Even without the nippy Nelon Pascal their bowling attack looks a strong one with left-arm Vincentian pacer who should have played more than his single Test match and off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who had 5-118 in the last match against the Jaguars in Dominica when Chanderpaul and Barnwell (148) shared in a century stand, is their leading bowlers.
Barbadian Kevin McLean is the other overseas pick by the Volcanoes and he could be lively with the ball as is Mervin Matthews. But it could be their spin attack of Shillingford, left-spinner Alston Bobb, Sebastien and Polius who could do the most damage with the ball.
There was some concern up to yesterday evening that the game could be delayed since the gear bags of six members of the visiting team had not arrived in Guyana. The match starts at 09:30hrs and admission is free with NCN’s Radio team of Sean Devers, Inderjeet Persaud and Brij Parasnath doing the ball-by-ball commentary with former West Indies Test batsman Travis Dowlin and former Guyana Wicket Keeper Sidney Jackman doing the comments.
The Guyana Jaguars: Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh (Vice-Captain), Shiv Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Chris Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Ronsford Beaton, Shemron Hetymer, Esuan Crandon (Head Coach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant Coach).
Windwards Volcanoes: Liam Sebastien (Captain), Devon Smith, Alston Bobb, Kenroy Peters, Kevin Mclean, Mervin Matthew, Kyle Mayers, Tyrone Theophile, Dalton Polius, Miles Bascombe, Keddy Lesporis, Shane Shillingford, Sunil Ambris, Lockhart Sebastien (Manager), Ian Allen (Coach), Denis Byam (Physio).