GEORGETOWN open their 2019 SBF Petroleum Jaguars One-Day League against defending champs Essequibo today at the Bourda Cricket Ground with both sides looking to gain much momentum in pursuit of this year’s crown.
The obvious main bout in the first round of matches will be played at the iconic Bourda Ground, home turf of the Leon Johnson-led Georgetown team. Although the champs will be playing out of zone, Essequibo side are virtually unchanged from last season barring the inclusion of newbie Nokta Moses.
Skipper Anthony Adams has led the franchise from the start, with both bat and ball while the usual suspects like Kemol Savory, Ricardo Adams, Kevon Boodie, Akinie Adams, coupled with the returning Ronsford Beaton, will certainly help with regard to seniority.

The aforementioned players have been the mainstay of the champs, as they continue to produce either with ball or bat. Another huge bonus will be the return of Keemo Paul to the side when the 2019 Hero CPL concludes, helping to stretch the line-up even further.
Johnson and his men will not be fazed by their opponents as they too possess a star-studded team, who are no strangers to international or regional limelight. With the likes of national batsmen in Robin Bacchus, Windies U-19 players Raymond Perez and Joshua Persaud, veteran all-rounder Chris Barnwell and Johnson himself; Georgetown will definitely be a handful.
In the bowling department, the home team will want much from veterans Steven Sankar and seamer Paul Wintz, while national spinner and former Windies U-19 skipper Ramaal Lewis could have ideal support from more Windies youth players in spinner Ashmead Nedd and pacer Qumar Torrington.

The other encounters for the first round will also be interesting as a number of big players will be on show in Berbice. Lower Corentyne and East Bank will do battle at Albion ground while West Demerara will face Upper Corentyne at Port Mourant. East Coast and West Berbice cap off the opening round as they are scheduled to play at Lusignan while defending champs Essequibo will battle Leon Johnson-led Georgetown at Bourda ground.
Georgetown squad: Leon Johnson (captain), Raymond Perez, Robin Bacchus, Christopher Barnwell, Winston Fraser, Ramaal Lewis, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Joshua Persaud, Adrian Hinds, Qumar Torrington, Joel Spooner, Ashmead Nedd and Steven Sankar.
Essequibo squad: Anthony Adams (captain), Keemo Paul, Ricardo Adams, Kemol Savory, Nealand Cadogan, Parmesh Parsotam, Akinie Adams, Kevon Boodie, Quintin Sampson, Nokta Moses, Joshua Jones, Mark Williams, David Williams and Ronsford Beaton. (Clifton Ross)