Can 13 be lucky for the Jaguars? Play Scorpions today in 11th semi since 2005

Oct 25, 2018 Sports

Jermaine Blackwood is Scorpions’ leading run scorer.

By Sean Devers
Guyana has not won a regional 50-over title in 13 years and today Zone ‘A’ leaders Jaguars face-off with Zone ‘B’ runners-up Jamaica Scorpions at the Kensington Oval from 14:00hrs in the first semi-final of the Regional Super50 tournament.
Guyana last won a title when Neil McGarell dumped left-arm spinner Silliman Benn for six as Shiv Chanderpaul led his Country to victory against Barbados on the D/L system at Bourda in fading light in what would be their last win.
But before Leon Johnson leads his team to its 10th title the well-oiled Jaguars will need to get past the Scorpions who were surprisingly beaten by the USA in their last match to finish second as CCC Marooners ended on top.
This will be the 11th time in 13 years Guyana has reached a 50-over semi-final but only twice have they progressed to the final (2009 & 2015) when they were beaten on both occasions by Trinidad.
The only time they failed to reach the ‘final four’ was in 2016 & 2017, while in the last tournament they were beaten in the semis by the Windwards Volcanoes in Antigua last February.
So if Johnson wants to join Clive Lloyd and Roger Harper as the only Guyanese Captains to win the double they must come with their ‘A’ game against the best team from the Barbados Zone who will have the advantage of playing all their games in familiar conditions.
Johnson admitted that conditions in Barbados are different from Trinidad but said the basics of the games remain, adding that execution will be the team’s main focus.
Their bowlers have operated with immaculate consistency and sent down frugal spells.
Today, Clinton Pestano, the first Guyanese to claim a hat-trick in this format and Raymond Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Chris Barnwell and Sherfane Rutherford (all fast bowling all-rounders) will relish the quicker tracks in Barbados.
The spin trio Ramaal Lewis, Veerasammy Permaul and Ricardo Adams will also appreciate the extra bounce anticipated in Bim.
But they will have to contend with Test batsmen Jermaine Blackwood, Scorpions’ leading batsman with two fifties and a century in 315 runs.
Andrew McCarthy (298 runs with 2 fifties) and John Campbell (242 runs with 3 fifties) are the other batsmen with 200 runs but the absence of their leading batsmen Rovman Powell, Chris Gayle and Fabian Allen will leave a hole in their batting.
Chadwick Walton (82 runs from 8 matches) has been a major disappointment and will be keen for a big score today, while Brandon King and Nkrumah Bonner will also be keen to contribute runs for their team.
Without pacer Oshane Thomas, the bowling will be led by experienced left-arm spinner Nickita Miller who continues to show his work and has the most wickets (11) for the Scorpions.
Jerome Taylor, Christopher Lamont and Derval Green could have their work cut out against a Jaguars top order which have been very positive in this tournament.
Chris Barnwell is in the best form of his life and has 255 runs with two half-centuries (61 not out & 99 not out) and will expect support from the inform Trevon Griffith (207 runs) with half-centuries in his two games, Raymond Reifer (217 runs: 3 fifties) and Sherfane Rutherford (121 runs with 1 fifty).
Skipper Leon Johnson has gotten three good starts in his in 107 runs from five innings but will need to convert 30s into something more meaningful, while the strong lower order on paper will need to refrain throwing their wickets away with loose shots in the event that Barnwell, Griffith, Johnson and Reifer fall cheaply.
The winner of tonight’s game will oppose the victor of tomorrow’s second semi-final between Red Force and Marooners in the grand finale on Sunday.

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