Jamaica aiming to turn back hosts T&T

ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad (CMC):

An absorbing contest can be expected when Trinidad & Tobago face three-time defending champions Jamaica in their semi-final of the WICB regional first-class championship, starting today at the University of the West Indies Sports & Physical Education Centre.

Both teams have cause for optimism entering the match. T&T finished the preliminary competition strongly with a resounding victory over Guyana, and Jamaica have an enviable record against their hosts, as well as their status as title-holders.

T&T team operations manager Omar Khan said the morale of the team was high, and the players were eager for success.

"We have not won the title for a while, and the boys know this," he said. "We have ambitions of winning all the regional titles available, and we have already started well by winning the first tournament of the season, the T20 series."

Focused

He added that his team was focused and wanted to make the two-island republic proud, but there is one critical area that would make his side more competitive.

For Jamaica coach Gus Logie, it is a double-edged sword. Being T&T-born, he has to rise above national pride, and condition his side to topple the Jamaicans.

"We are the defending champions, and I think players know what it is like to win championships, and we want to continue to do so," he said.

"This is the strongest team available, and we believe that every one of the young men are going to go out and do the job on the day."

He said: "I think our chances are good, Jamaica have been the champions for the last three years."

Both sides have been boosted with the return of players from the West Indies squad that exited the World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

T&T have included left-handed batsman Darren Bravo, all-rounder Kieron Pollard, and fast-medium bowler Ravi Rampaul.

Making way are batsmen Tishan Maraj and Nicholas Alexis, as well as fast-medium bowler Atiba Alert. They were in the squad that defeated Guyana last weekend in the final preliminary round.

Jamaica have included West Indies all-rounder André Russell in the squad, while Dave Bernard Jr returns from a one-match injury layoff, and Brenton Parchment gets his first chance of the season.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Chadwick Walton maintained his place in the squad, after Carlton Baugh Jr failed a fitness test leading up to the team selection.

The second semi-final, Combined Campuses & Colleges versus Wind-ward Islands, will be played at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados. It has been the most successful for CCC, since their entry into the competition three years ago. It's the first time they have won four matches, finished at the top of the preliminary competition with 57 points, and reached the semi-finals.