Melbourne look to pummel St Thomas

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Fresh from their disappointing showing at the recently concluded Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, Marlon Samuels and Carlton Baugh Jr will today pad up for reigning champions Melbourne Kangaroos, when they face St Thomas Prodigals in the second round of the Jamaica Cricket Association limited overs knockout competition at Goodyear Oval.

The game, which is slated to get under way at 9:30 a.m., will be one of seven on the day, with most of Jamaica's team members to the Caribbean Twenty20 also suiting up for their respective clubs.

For Melbourne, who have won the competition for the past three years, Samuels and Baugh Jr will look to add substance to the team, which like last year's beaten finalist, Manchester Lions, sat out last weekend's first round.

Samuels and Baugh are part of a batting line-up that includes Donovan Pagon, Andre McCarthy, John-Ross Campbell and in-form all-rounder Damion Jacobs.

Bowling team

Their bowling will be without Nikita Miller who, for varying reasons, has not represented the club since the start of the season.

"It is the same format as last year and we are prepared to go there and play positive cricket as usual," said Melbourne's manager, Donald McNaughton.

"Generally, we don't have any concerns about our opponents. We will just be going out there and play as best as we can."

Looking to the youngsters

As it relates to St Thomas, who made it to the semi-finals of the three-day Senior Cup, they will be looking to a number of youngsters, including batsmen Marvin Darlington, Oneil Wright and Christie Jones.

In the other feature match of the round, Manchester will travel to St Catherine where they will take on the G.C. Foster Crocodiles at G.C. Foster College.

Leading the way for Manchester will be Donovan Sinclair, Jamie Merchant and Howard Powell, while for Manchester, much will be expected of Sheldon Powell, Dwight Stewart and Kieno-Paul Sailsman.

"It is going to be very challenging. We will have to be very careful and don't take anything for granted," said Manchester's coach, Barry Barnes.

"G.C. Foster has done well in Senior Cup and have a good crop of players. I just hope my guys have now stopped celebrating the two-day title and start thinking about the one-dayers and the Twenty20, as our aim is to win all three competitions this year."

In other matches, Clarendon Bears will host St Ann Cutters at Jamaica Broilers and Portland Alligators will take on Kingston Tigers at Sabina Park. St Catherine Saints have drawn a bye.