Logie not perturbed about low scores

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's new head coach, Gus Logie, says he is not too concerned about below par scores in two practice matches thus far, as the team prepares for next month's Caribbean Twenty20 (CT20) tournament.

In the first game, Wavell Hinds' XI, set a revised target of 140 off 20 overs, fell two runs short to end on 138 for six, while in yesterday's game, Hinds' XI, batting first, could only manage 127 for four off their allotted overs.

Gayle's XI, in chasing yesterday's total, ended on 121 for four off the maximum number of overs, six runs short of their target.

Acknowledging that a total of 160 at a run rate of eight runs per over is generally considered a par score in cricket's shortest and newest version of the game, Logie said the more games the teams play the better the scores should become.

"The scores have not been what we would like them to be, but it is work in progress," said Logie.

"What you find is that a total can be influenced by a number of factors on any given day, including the pitch, playing conditions, etc., as well as the form of players. But we are not overly concerned as a number of players are still learning how to adapt to Twenty20 playing conditions and I am confident that as soon as they get used to them, our totals will get better," he added.

Semi-finals

The issue of low team scores is nothing new to Jamaica, who made it to the final and semi-finals of the now-defunct Standford 20/20 Tournament in 2006 and 2008, and finished fourth in last season's maiden staging of the CT20.

In last year's semi-finals, Jamaica made 153 for nine off their alloted overs, while in the third place play-off, Jamaica were limited to 94 for seven off 14 overs.

Meanwhile, Hinds, Marlon Samuels and David Bernard Jr. continued their good form yesterday in the second practice match.

Hinds made 31 off 32 balls, Samuels 27 off 30 and Bernard Jr 23 off 25 in Hinds XI's total. Spinner Nikita Miller, 1-15, was the most economical bowler.

Gayle was in spanking form, smashing 61 off 49 balls with four sixes and four fours. However, the remainder of his team was undermined by leg-spinner, Odean Brown 2-20 off four overs and medium pacer, Andre Russell, 1-16 off four overs, as they stifled at 121 for six.