– Hurricanes motivated by presence of Cornwall, Powell
Story and Photos by Brandon Corlette
Guyana Jaguars will have their tails up after a commanding seven-wicket win in their last round against Jamaica Scorpions inside three days. The five-time defending champions will meet the Leeward Islands Hurricanes today, Thursday, March 5 from 09:30h at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Chandrapaul Hemraj, who is nursing an injury to his quad and is expected to return for the next round, has made way for Tevin Imlach in the familiar Jaguars 13-man squad, which is welcoming newly-appointed Assistant Coach/Manager Julian Moore. Jaguars are in second with 79 points while the Hurricanes are on 40.6 points. Jaguars had inflicted a 10-wicket thrashing on the Hurricanes, but over the past seasons, these teams have played in dramatic matches.
The most recent came last season when Hurricanes defeated Jaguars by two wickets at Providence. Despite the Hurricanes not being at their peak this season, they have the record of defeating the Jaguars twice in their last three matches at Providence. On the eve of the match as both teams made their final preparations, Hurricanes Assistant Coach and Manager, Wilden Cornwall shared his sentiments on what promises to be an exciting contest.
Coach Cornwall disclosed that the team played four days of really good cricket the last time these teams met. “We have also played some good cricket against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in St Kitts and we are looking to take this same momentum in this Guyana game,” Cornwall noted.
With the likes of Kieran Powell and Rahkeem Cornwall in the team, the entire Hurricanes squad is motivated. “Well, any team will be motivated by these guys (Cornwall and Powell), especially the younger guys. Cornwall and Powell add a lot of value to the team,” the Hurricanes Assistant Coach/Manager Wilden Cornwall explained.
Sharing his sentiments on the pitch, Cornwall highlighted that it was a working pitch: “whatever you put in that, is what you’re going to get out. I see a lot of grass on the pitch, which is a good sign; may the better team win,” Cornwall concluded.
The premier spinners from opposing sides will be in focus. Veerasammy Permaul has been this season’s leading bowler so far and West Indies off-spinner Cornwall has jumped into prominence in just four matches, having missed the first two games of the season because of injury.
Jaguars’ leading run-scorer this season is Christopher Barnwell, who has 376 runs followed by skipper Leon Johnson, who has 362 runs. Permaul has 45 wickets followed by Nial Smith, who has 19. For the Hurricanes, former West Indies opener Powell has 376 runs while Amir Jangoo has 276. Cornwall leads the bowling charts for Hurricanes with 23 wickets while Regional Super50 top bowler Sheno Berridge has 18 wickets.
JAGUARS: Leon Johnson (Captain); Christopher Barnwell; Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Akshaya Persaud, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Vishaul Singh, and Nial Smith. Esuan Crandon is the Coach and Julian Moore, Assistant Coach/Manager. IN – Imlach; OUT – Chandrapaul Hemraj
HURRICANES: Jahmar Hamilton (Captain); Sheno Berridge; Keacy Carty; Rahkeem Cornwall; Montcin Hodge; Amir Jangoo; Jeremiah Louis; Kian Pemberton; Adelvin Phillip; Kieran Powell; Ross Powell; Akeem Saunders and Terance Warde. IN – Carty, Phillip, Saunders; OUT – Nino Henry, Jaison Peters, Devon Thomas
UMPIRES: Nigel Duguid, Christopher Taylor (Jamaica)
MATCH REFEREE: Reon King
RESERVE UMPIRE: Javed Persaud
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