Guyana/Jamaica battle commences today
THE second round of the WICB Regional Under-19 three-day competition gets under way today with three matches, one of which has tournament juggernauts, Guyana and Jamaica going head-to-head at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground from 10:00hrs (09:00hrs Jamaican time). Both teams recorded very comfortably outright victories against their opponents in the first round of the tournament which commenced on Monday, with Guyana crushing the Leeward Islands by an innings and 27 runs while Jamaica destroyed Trinidad and Tobago by 10 wickets.
Today the two sides, which were the only teams to score over 300 runs in an innings, meet on what has been, more often than not, a terrific track for batting.
Home side advantage is expected to be a major factor in this match for hosts Guyana who boost a strong batting line-up with the likes of Chanderpaul Hemraj and Kwame Crosse standing firm in the middle along with Dominic Rikhi who did not get off in the first match.
Openers Kevon Boodie and Kandasammy Surujnarine along with Rikhi were removed cheaply in the Guyanese first match and that is where Hemraj and Crosse, who both scored half-centuries, stepped in to propel the score to over 300.
Support also came from all-rounder Clinton Pestano who added a welcome 43 to the Guyanese total, while skipper Ronsford Beaton chipped in with a pugnacious unbeaten 39 that propelled the home team’s score past the 300-run mark.
Beaton leads the bowling attack along with medium pacer Pestano while spinners Amir Khan, Ricardo Adams, Gudakesh Motie and Joemal La Fleur will be expected to do some damage for the home side.
The Guyanese spinners shared 18 of the 20 Leeward Islands’ wickets in the match. However they may have a tough time on the GCC track but once there is consistency positive outcomes will result at the end of this three-day encounter.
On the other hand, Jamaica will be depending heavily on their batting lineup that impressed in the first round with Reswayne Creary, Donovan Nelson and opener John Campbell leading the way.
These players scored sterling half-centuries in the first innings of their team’s first round game, while Campbell entered the said match with two tons for the West Indies Under-19 during their tour of USA last week.
Support in the batting area is expected to come from Bryan Gayle and Aldaine Thomas while middle order batsmen Ramon Senior and Chrishna Graham who did not get a chance to unfold are also under the scope to make runs.
In their bowling department, Marquino Midley and James McDonald spearhead the bowling attack and have proved to be quite dangerous with the new ball while Nelson and Senior, who were effective against Trinidad and Tobago, are also to be kept under close watch.
In the other two matches which also bowl off today, Barbados, like Jamaica and Guyana, will be looking to make it two out of two when they take on the Leeward Islands at Demerara Cricket Club ground, while defending champions Windward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago face each other at the Guyana National Stadium.
Guyana:  Ronsford Beaton (captain), Kwame Crosse, Kevon Boodie, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Dominique Rikhi, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Linden Austin, Amir Khan, Anthony Adams, Ricardo Adams, Clinton Pestano, Lloydel Lewis, Gudakesh Motie and Joemal La Fleur Hubern Evans (coach) and Raymond Barton (manager).
Jamaica: Donovan Nelson (captain), John Campbell, Ramon Senior, James McDonald, Chrishna Graham, Bryan Gayle, Tajay Edwards, Oshane Walters, Marquino Midley, Rovmon Powell, Reswayne Creary, Aldaine Thomas, Fabian Allen and Ragni Francis.
Barbados: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Neil Browne, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Chaim Holder, Shai Hope, Jerome Jones, Kyle Mayers, Shane Parris, Ravindra Persaud, Mario Rampersaud, Amir Thomas, Chad Williams; Dexter Toppin (coach), Livy Coppin (manager)
Leeward Islands: Nino Henry, Rahkeem Cornwall, Elijah Peters, Wasim Mintos, Shaquille Martina, Chavil Archibald, Dymon Parris, Duan Webbe, Akeem Saunders, Larry Audain, Tristan Hanley, Daniel Doram, Raymel Adams, Cleon Reece; Winston Benjamin (coach), Ronald Powell (manager)
Trinidad and Tobago: Steven Katwaroo (captain), Savion Lara, Kieron Joseph, Derone Davis, Duane Cockburn, Isian Rajah, Christan Herrera, Philton Williams, Rajiv Maraj, Jovan Ali, Idrees Mohammed, Stephen Sooklal, Akeal Hosein, Emmanuel Left; Tarandath Sammy (coach), Roland Sampath (manager)
Windward Islands:  Kavem Hodge (captain), Sunil Ambris, Emmanuel Peter, Ray Jordan, Shaquille Browne, Terron Simon, Dwight Thomas, Bronte Bess, Jamaal James, Awen Edward, Larry Edward, Preston McSween, Keon George, Hollis Blair