TT clash with Jamaica in TCL ‘semis’

KINGSTON: Hosts Jamaica will be looking to show that their limited-overs defeat of Trinidad and Tobago was no fluke, when the two teams meet again in one of the semifinals of the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 three-day cricket challenge, starting today. In the other semi-final, Zone “A” winners Barbados will start as favourites against Guyana, but the contest between the hosts and the defending champions however, will take centre stage. Jamaica scored a narrow one-wicket win in the semifinals of the preceding limited-overs competition to ensure that TT were dethroned as West Indies youth champions in that particular format of the game. Jamie Trenchfield’s side will be looking for a repeat performance and will again rely on the heavy-scoring Xavier Marshall for a sound start or to chase the runs, with support from Yannick Elliot and the captain.

TT has all-round strength. They possess some very capable batsmen like William Perkins and Samuel Felix, but it’s their spin-bowling quartet that holds all the aces. It’s headed by Young West Indies left-arm spin bowler Rishi Bachan and includes captain Kavesh Kantasingh, Magnum Nanan and Ansil Bhagan. The other semifinal is equally intriguing. Barbados showed their penchant for playing positive cricket during their final preliminary match against Rest of the Americas that they won by 10 wickets when it never seemed possible. They have been playing consistently throughout the competition with a solid, if not spectacular batting line-up supported by a purposeful bowling attack.

Barbados’ batting will revolve around captain Renaldo Parris, but there are plenty of weapons in the bowling with Ruel Brathwaite, Barrington Yearwood and spin bowler Steve Pinder all capable of changing the course of a match. The Barbadians made light work of Guyana in the limited-overs semifinal, and will be hoping to carry on in that same vein. But the Guyanese will be no pushovers. They too, have a solid, if not formidable batting line-up that has scored consistently throughout the competition. Whenever they needed a boost, they could depend on someone, in the main captain Zamal Khan, Zaheer Mohammed, Leon Johnson or Anthony D’Andrade. As usual, their bowling is spin-based with plenty of choices at Khan’s disposal.