… 7th on run-getters list, only Guyanese with 450-plus

By Clifton Ross

GUYANA Jaguars captain Leon Johnson will need to prolong his current batting form in order to buff his team’s chances at retaining their title, with just 3 rounds remaining in the 2020 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-Day Tournament.

Johnson, currently 7th on the list of leading run-scorers after 7 rounds; has 460 runs under his belt with two fifties (59 and 63) and a career/tournament-best individual score of 189 not out.

Points-wise, Guyana (85.6 points) trail their opponents for tomorrow’s start to Round 8, the Barbados Pride (116 points) by 30+ points, making the Day/Night encounter at Providence a certain thriller.

The champs have been playing well with regard to their batting department; which has been backed by the likes of their seniors in; openers Chandrapaul Hemraj and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who have been laying the platform.

A veteran middle-order line-up which features Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Raymon Reifer and Chris Barnwell – a few of the key players who make up the core of the Jaguars batting unit and have been sublime in their efforts with the bat to date.

Johnson has created a dynasty with the Jaguars over the past 5 years and it’s clear than once the former West Indies Test batsman is in form, the team portrays a different level of energy.

In the last match against the Leeward Hurricanes, it was Johnson with help from Bramble who initially orchestrated the eventual draw with their pair of match-saving fifties.

Given his role over the seasons as the team’s boss and one of the most experienced batsmen in contemporary regional cricket, Johnson will certainly have to carry his momentum into the latter stages.

Round 8 boasts the perfect scenario for the left-hander to be the ideal captain and batsman in one. With the stakes for the possible number one spot up for grabs in the all-important encounter, Johnson will be keen on correcting his 0 and 17 which he recorded when the two sides met a few rounds ago in Pride’s backyard.

Being one of the consistent batsmen regionally over the years who usually ends with 400 runs at least, Johnson is currently the only Guyanese to cross the 450-run mark, having tremendously bounced back following a mixed opening half of the competition.

It is likely that he will be aiming to wrap up the season with at least 2 more centuries to possibly take him past the 600-run mark.

Summing up the odds, it is clear that in order for Guyana to remain in contention for their record 6th consecutive title win, Johnson’s form will play a key role going forward, with regard to mentally keeping the 32-year-old in a calm, positive state-of-mind which makes for a better field-general.