West Indies, Guyana face off in 20/20

Hosts West Indies are favoured to kick-off their 20/20 World Cup campaign in grand style, when they face Ireland in the second match of the competition today at the Guyana National Stadium.



A depleted West Indies side – led by Darren Sammy, dominated the Irish during a series of 20/20 Internationals in the Jamaica Cricket Festival (JCF) earlier this month.



Back to full strength with Chris Gayle returning to the helm, all-rounder Dwayne Bravo to bring his energy and enthusiasm, and compatriot Kieron Pollard to add his big hitting, West Indies are expected to make light work of the Irish.



West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan will be playing before his home crowd, and he believes the home team can make home advantage count.



Ireland have been in the Caribbean longer than any of the visiting teams, but they have won just one of six tour games, lost a One-day International to West Indies, and were defeated in both of their two warm-up matches. But they have a knack for giant-killing acts.



In the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, they knocked Pakistan out of the competition, and in last year’s 20/20 World Cup, they upset Bangladesh.



The West Indies-Ireland contest is the main event of a double-header, which sees last year’s runners-up Sri Lanka tackling New Zealand in the opening match, after what promises to be a sizzling 45-minute opening ceremony.