Fit TT ready for Bajans today

A FIT and focused Trinidad and Tobago are hoping  to end a seven-year drought when they play Barbados in their semi-final of  the Red Stripe Bowl cricket series at the Kaiser Oval, Discovery Bay, Jamaica, today. Trinidad and Tobago have never won the Red Stripe Bowl title since its inception seven years ago, and have also never qualified for the final. But manager Omar Khan, speaking from his hotel room, exuded confidence all that is about to change. He said yesterday: “We have done what we can and now it’s up the guys to deliver the goods. They are fit and focused and we expect to defeat the Barbadians who are the defending champions.” Yesterday the team had a light workout session at a small playing field near the ground, because there are no practice facilities in the Discovery area. But Khan repeated his men are ready for the fight ahead. “We are not going to be daunted by the fact that Barbados have eight Test players in their team.

The boys are going out there to play to the best of their abilities and hopefully at the end of the day, it will add up to a Trinidad and Tobago victory.” The Trinidad and Tobago players took in the first session of the first semi-final between Guyana and Jamaica before going off  to training yesterday. Trinidad and Tobago have been very consistent in the Jamaica zone with their only defeat coming in their last match, when  the Jamaicans eked out a  two-run victory. Barbados who beat Jamaica by 32 runs in last year’s final, were hot and cold in the Antigua zone of the competition, following up a miserable defeat by the home team with a crushing victory over Guyana in their  next match. The Barbadians are out to capture their fifth regional limited overs title and will be hoping to go all the way and repeat as back-to-back champs which they accomplished in 1976 and 1977. Trinidad and Tobago have a better record in limited overs cricket than the Barbadians, having won six titles. 

The last was achieved seven years ago, when a Rajindra Dhanraj hat-trick swept them to victory over Guyana, in Georgetown.
Teams: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - Daren Ganga (capt), Shazam Babwah, Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillion, Reyad Emrit, Andy Jackson, Imran Jan, Aneil Kanhai, Brian Lara, Theodore Modeste, Dave Mohammed, Gibran Mohammed, Dinanath Ramnarine, Rodney Sooklal.
BARBADOS — Courtney Browne (capt), Sulieman Benn, Ian Bradshaw, Sherwin Campbell, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Vasbert Drakes, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Ryan Hurley, Floyd Reifer, Dale Richards, Dwayne Smith, Kurt Wilkinson.
UMPIRES: Eddie Nicholls and Steve Bucknor.