… Permaul, Reifer in for crucial semi-final clash

By Rajiv Bisnauth

CAPTAIN Leon Johnson feels his Guyana Jaguars team have won the psychological battle going into today’s semi-final clash against the Windward Island Volcanoes.
The Guyana Jaguars completed an all-round performance with bat and ball that propelled them to a comfortable victory over the Volcanoes, in the final group game of CG Insurance Super50 Cup last Monday. With this result the two teams will now meet in the second semi-final at Coolidge Cricket Ground from 13:30hrs.
“Yes we are (thinking of title). We have a couple of days before that game. It’s good to get a victory against the Windwards which will be the same opposition that we will be playing on Thursday (today). We were very convincing in our victory and at least won the psychological battle going into that game.
The Jaguars were always in complete control of Monday’s encounter after CG Insurance man-of-the-match Keon Joseph took two wickets in the first over as the Windwards were routed for 153 in 45 overs.

The strongl-built fast bowler, operated from the Sir Curtly Ambrose end, and produced a fantastic spell of 8-2-24-4. This was a career-best List A analysis in just his fifth game at this level, after making his debut back in 2009.
Reacting to the win as Guyana Jaguars continued their hopes to win their first regional 50-over title since 2005 when the tournament was called the KFC Cup, the 29-year-old Joseph said “I’ve been around the team a while, so I know when I get the ball the team is looking for me to produce. The camp is good (ahead of semi-finals). We just have to tick all our boxes, keep consistent, win the semi-final and potentially get to the final.”
The Jaguars have won four out of five matches in the preliminary stage, and indeed looked a compact unit, despite a few batting errors. The Volcanoes, on the other hand, have qualified for the knockout stages at third position with two wins and three losses during the league stage, and will definitely face a difficult challenge.
Guyana have not won the Super50 since Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s side bested Courtney Browne’s Barbados by seven runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method 15 years ago at the now decommissioned Bourda Oval.

Prior to that, Guyana reigned supreme in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003.
In 14 tournaments staged since then, they failed to reach the semi-final 11 times, lost at the semi-final three times and in the final thrice.
Meanwhile, the technical committee for the CG Insurance Super50 Cup has approved squad replacements ahead of today’s game.
Several players, who were part of the magnificent West Indies Test series victory in Bangladesh, have been drafted into their franchise 15-member squad.
For the Jaguars, left-handed all-rounder Raymon Reifer and experienced left-arm spinner Veersammy Permaul will replace wicketkeeper/batsman Kemol Savory and batsman Assad Fudadin, while for Windward Islands Volcanoes, Kavem Hodge, the right-handed batsman who also bowls left-arm spin, has been included in place of opener Desron Maloney.

Guyana Jaguars: Leon Johnson (captain), Shimron Hetmyer (vice-captain), Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Raymon Reifer, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Ramaal Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Akshaya Persaud, Veerasammy Permaul, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith.
Windward Islands Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris (captain), Andre Fletcher (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Roland Cato, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Ryan John, Ray Jordan, Kavem Hodge, Obed McCoy, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius, Emmanuel Stewart, Kevin Stoute.