The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs today, September 22, in Qualifier Two at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
This match determines who will oppose Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in Sunday’s final.
According to GAW vice-captain Romario Shepherd, the Warriors had an off-night in their recent game against the TKR, having lost the powerplay with both bat and ball.
“In the powerplay we can improve, both bat and ball. We did not play well, like we did throughout the tournament. It was an off-night for us, it was the first time we lost the powerplay with bat and ball in the same game. It is just for us to get things right and get a better game,” Shepherd has said.
The mood in the Warriors camp, Shepherd said, is not total disappointment. “It is not something to be truly disappointed, that is why we wanted to finish on top of the table. We have a next chance, so we have to go back to the drawing board and see where we went wrong. And against Jamaica, we will try and get the things correct that we did not get against TKR.”
Keemo Paul has missed the last few games due to injury, and according to Shepherd, there is a chance he will return today for the Jamaica clash.
“We back Odean with the bat; we back our players. We are missing Keemo Paul, who is one of our best batsmen this tournament. Hopefully, he can get better, because he is batting in the nets. You never know, sometime Friday he is out there,” Shepherd disclosed.
Warriors posted 166 in their 20 overs against TKR, and Shepherd noted that the Warriors were 20 runs short.
“I think we were 20 runs short. We backed our bowlers to defend the total (167), but it did not happen. Things like that happen in cricket, just it is just for us to rectify these things on Friday against Jamaica,”
Shepherd noted.
The Berbician has shared positive sentiments on his fellow countryman Shamar Joseph. Although Joseph has not been picking up wickets, Shepherd thinks he has great promise and pace.
“He is very exciting, fit and aggressive. His figures do not reflect how well he bowled so far, but I am hoping the next game things can go his way. A lot of missed opportunities came off his bowling. The goods (are) there, so it is just to iron out a few things. Hopefully, he can get a good game, and get a four-wicket haul,” Shepherd highlighted.
After St Lucia Kings were spun out by the Tallawahs in the Eliminator, the Providence surface has been the talk around town. According to Shepherd, it was not the easiest of wickets to bat on early.
“The wicket was really sticky. The ball was jumping, and it was hard to play shots. And as the game went on, it got better. When I went out to bat, it was still tacky, and at the half-way stage, they rolled the wicket, so TKR got a better start on the wicket than us,” Shepherd said.
Tallawahs will be a dangerous opponent. Having finished the league stage in fourth, they went on to win the title, and they beat the Amazon Warriors in crunch games.
Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Saim Ayub, Hazratulla Zazai, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Azam Khan, Shai Hope, Gudakesh Motie, Dwaine Pretorius, Kevlon Anderson, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu and Junior Sinclair.
Jamaica Tallawahs squad: Imad Wasim, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Mohammad Amir, Alex Hales, Chris Green, Jermaine Blackwood, Shamarh Brooks, Hayden Walsh Jr, Raymon Reifer, Amir Jangoo, Steven Taylor, Shamar Springer, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk McKenzie and Kelvin Pitman. (GTimes)