By Brandon Corlette
The Guyana Jaguars and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, both fresh from a win against the Barbados Pride in the ongoing CG Insurance Regional Super50 tournament, will lock horns today, Friday February 12, from 13:30h, at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. The Hurricanes have pulled off a stunning win against the Pride, chasing a big total of 302 on the back of Keacy Carty’s unbeaten 123.
Although defeating the Pride, the Jaguars had scored only 235 runs in 41.4 overs. For the Jaguars, the aim is to bat collectively in that full quota of 50 overs. According to Carty, player of the match in the Hurricanes-Pride clash, he will be looking to produce a similar kind of innings against the Guyana Jaguars. “I will look to do a similar kind of job in the next match and the others to come. We are confident, and this win will give us a big boost,” he declared.
Jaguars captain Leon Johnson has said the Jaguars have to take each game as it comes; and this match against the Leeward Islands will pose a different challenge, as it will be about execution on the day. Shimron Hetmyer scored 80 in the first match but departed with more than 20 overs remaining in the innings. Romario Shepherd’s 58 and Chandrapaul Hemraj’s 35 were other notable contributions from the Jaguars’ batsmen, who had lost their way in that encounter.
Without doubt, the Jaguars’ bowling unit looks formidable with the spin trio of Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie and Chandrapaul Hemraj. Important to note in this Hurricanes-Jaguars clash is that Guyanese native Ashmead Nedd is representing the Hurricanes. Two Hurricanes batsmen have scored centuries in this tournament – Canadian Nitesh Kumar and young Keacy Carty. Paceman Quinton Boatswain picked up eight wickets in the two matches, while West Indies leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr has been expensive, and will be aiming to come good in this encounter.
Shimron Hetmyer and his teammates will be aiming to score triple figures, and produce a complete batting performance that was lacking in their opening match.
Hurricanes squad reads: Devon Thomas (captain), Montcin Hodge (v/captain), Amir Jangoo, (wk), Ross Powell, Kieran Powell, Keacy Carty, Nitish Kumar, Hayden Walsh Jr, Jeremiah Louis, Sheno Berrige, Quinton Boatswain, Colin Archibald, Nino Henry, Ashmead Nedd and Terrance Ward.
Jaguars squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Shimron Hetmyer (vice-captain), Assad Fudadin, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kemol Savory, Christopher Barnwell, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach. (GTimes)