CAVE HILL, Barbados (CMC) – Both Combined Campuses & Colleges and Barbados will hope that familiarity will breed success in their seventh round match of the WICB Regional first-class championship, starting today at the Three Ws Oval.
The two sides are very familiar with each other because they share the same domestic space of Barbados, and in some regards, the same player pool, so it may be difficult for some of the players to separate their emotions from playing against some of their close friends.
They, however, will enter the match with different objectives.
CCC – second on 45 points – have virtually sewn-up a place in the semi-finals, and will be looking for a victory that would guarantee they obtain home advantage in the Final Four of the competition, but could settle for nothing less than first innings points if Trinidad & Tobago fail to beat Guyana.
Barbados – sixth on 27 points – are fighting for a place in the semi-finals, and a victory would guarantee they make the Final Four, but would need nothing less than first innings points if Windward Islands either lose, or concede first innings points in a draw with Leeward Islands.
Both sides enter the match with plenty confidence, following victories in the previous round. CCC toppled Guyana by eight runs at this ground, and Barbados came-from-behind to snatch a six-wicket victory over the Leewards at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
CCC have swelled their ranks to 14 players, with all-rounder Raymon Reifer fully recovered from a back injury and being added to the squad, and lanky, bespectacled wicketkeeper/batsman Jamal Smith holding onto the place he gained belatedly for the previous match ahead of Nekoli Parris.
The Barbados selectors have kept faith with the squad that travelled to St John’s, and pitch conditions are likely to figure in their plans for the final 11.
The records show that CCC have won both of the two previous matches they have contested against the Barbadians at this venue. They won a low-scorer three years ago by 24 runs, and returned the following year to win by five wickets in the second leg of that year’s competition.
Barbados however, have won the other two fixtures they have contested since the CCC’s entry three years ago, including last year’s match at Grove Park in Nevis by eight wickets.