Guyana Jaguars seek to topple TT Red Force in first semi-final today

By Brij Parasnath
GUYANA Jaguars will be seeking to avenge last year’s massive defeat to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, when the two teams clash in the first NAGICO Super50 semi-final to be contested at the same venue today from 13:30hrs.And the Guyana Jaguars will fancy their chances of turning the tables in their quest to qualify once again for the grand final carded for Saturday.
The Guyanese outfit suffered two narrow defeats to Windwards Volcanoes in both rounds of the Zonal round-robin series this year in St Kitts. It was those two losses that saw them relegated to runner-up spot to the Volcanoes after both teams completed their six matches on 18 points each.
Both the Jaguars and Volcanoes registered four victories but the regulations give the advantage to the team that emerge winner of their face-to-face matches.
The Tournament Rules and Regulations Article 21.9 of the Playing Conditions state that “In the event of teams finishing on equal points in their zone, the higher placed team will be determined as follows: (1) The team with the most wins; (2) If still equal, the team with the most wins over the other team(s) who are equal on points and have the same number of wins; (3) If still equal, the team with the highest number of bonus points and (4) If still equal, the team with the highest net run rate.
The Windwards Volcanoes, as the winners of Zone B will take on Barbados Pride, runners-up of Zone A; in the second semi-final carded for tomorrow at the QP Oval starting at 13:30hrs.
In their final Zone B match against Combined Campuses and Colleges, the Guyana Jaguars did not start with evergreen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and strokeplayer Vishaul Singh and promising fast bowler Romario Shepherd who made an instant impact in his debut outing for the Guyana senior team.
Both Chanderpaul and Singh are expected to return to the starting eleven to strengthen the top order.
Both Georgetown Cricket Club players have shown good form with the bat and much will be expected of them in this crucial encounter.
“I have the feeling that Guyana Jaguars team would be more comfortable against the current Trinidad Tobago Red Force outfit that has been playing without the services of senior stars Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Samuel Badree, Kevon Cooper, Ravi Rampaul and mystery spinner Sunil Narine who is debarred from participation in the regional 50-overs-a-side competition.
Narine wreaked havoc and was the chief destroyer in the grand final last year. He finished with the exceptional analysis of 8-3-9-6 as Guyana folded up for a paltry 65 in 23.5 overs. It was the most dismal performance by a Guyana senior national team.
For this year’s semi-final encounter, the T&T Red Force will still be without the services of Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Pollard, Rampaul, Badree, Simmons and Cooper.
But the almost new-look Trinidad and Tobago team, under the leadership of Jason Mohammed, have displayed a lot of determination and grit against Jamaica Scorpions (both rounds) and Barbados Pride (first round).
Guyanese-born franchise player Narsingh Deonarine was a key player for the T&T Red Force in their five earlier matches but was surprisingly omitted for the crucial sixth round fixture against Barbados Pride in the final round.
The defending champions lost their winning streak and probably the momentum that they held until some questionable umpiring decisions against Barbados Pride, last Sunday left them jittery and anxious, as their usually high standard of fielding was punctuated with series of fielding blunders that eased the pressure on the Barbadians who would have been boosted immensely for their three-wicket win.
“I expect that Deonarine to regain his place in the Red Force starting eleven especially with the Guyana Jaguars having four left-handed batsmen in Assad Fudadin, Vishaul Singh, Chanderpaul and skipper Leon Johnson at the top of the order.
The talented all-rounder should make a big difference with his off-spinning ability and with first-hand knowledge of batting style and temperament of his former colleagues.
With both West Indies Test players Denesh Ramdin and Darren Bravo back in the homesters’ line-up and already showing great form with the bat, the T&T Red Force will also feel happier and a much bigger crowd comprising supporters for both teams should witness an absorbing contest.
It is difficult to envisage another one-sided contest like what transpired last year. The Guyana Jaguars will be seeking to avenge that loss and become the first team to qualify for this year’s final.