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Promoting Reifer was Shiv’s idea says Johnson
Confident of reaching semis
By Sean Devers in Barbados
In Association with Bounty Supermarket, Vnet Communications, Life Time Reality & Ming’s Products & Services
After being defeated by Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars got their Regional Super50 campaign going with a moral boosting eight-wicket win against CCC Marooners and according to Captain Leon Johnson the team is going into today’s game against ICC Americas with plenty of confidence.
Chasing 130 to win inside 40 overs on Saturday night at Kensington Oval, the Jagaurs lost Assad Fud
Leon Johnson
adin in the fourth over with just eight runs on the board and to the surprise of many, in walked Raymon Refier at number three.
The left handed Reifer grew up on fast Barbadian pitches and was playing against a team he once represented and he masterminded a 117 second wicket stand with Rajendra Chandrika, clobbering a run-a-ball 67 with nine fours and a six and by the time he was removed five runs short of victory the promotion had worked perfectly.
Johnson explained how the idea to promote Refier after for the third time, the openers failed to provide their team with the foundation they were hoping for.
“It was Shiv’s idea! At our team meeting Shiv suggested promoting someone up the order and we thought Raymon was the best equipped to do it and it paid off,” Johnson revealed.
“I am very happy with the improvement shown in both departments, the bowlers maintained good lines and lengths throughout and built lots of pressure on the CCC batsmen, resulting on them giving their wickets away,” said Johnson the 29 year-old left-hander.
Johnson, who played nine Tests and six ODIs for the West Indies, said Devendra Bishoo, who was the most expensive bowler in the first two games, but bowled beautifully on Saturday, is showing signs of confidence which is good for the bowling attack.
“My major concern has been the opening partnerships so far. We have been one down inside four overs in all three games and it’s a bit worrying but I am confident it’s an area we will also improve in,” said Johnson who started the tournament with an attractive 55 coming in at 1-1.
The Jaguars have used Fudadin and Shemron Heytmer in the first two games and Fudadin and Chandrika in the last game without success.
Coming from ultra slow and low pitches in Guyana most of the batsmen including Chanderpaul, looked a bit uncomfortable to the extra pace and bounce here in Barbados but Johnson feels the pitches have been generally good for batting.
“The new ball has done a bit but then it gets much easier after 10 overs. We just were not able to get a good start against Barbados and Jamaica to capitalise on those middle overs,” Johnson, who has led the Jaguars to back-to-back four-day titles in the last two seasons, pointed out.
The Guyanese have not done so well in 50 overs cricket winning the last of their nine titles at Bourda 12 years ago. They reached the semis nine times since then including two finals. In 2015 in their last final in Port-of-Spain they were bowled out for 65 which is their lowest total in Regional 50-over cricket as Sunil Narine had 6-9 from seven overs.
Despite their poor start here Johnson is still confident of advancing to the Semi-finals in Antigua from February 15.
“We are still very confident of qualifying for the ‘final-four’ we need to win four or all five of our remaining matches. This win has done our confidence well and we will be looking to replicate that kind of performance in the remaining matches,” Johnson concluded.
The Jagaurs, with five points and only ahead of ICC Americas who have lost all of their games, plays their next match today against ICC Americas from 09:00hrs.
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