TT cricketers tackle Jamaica

MIDDLE-ORDER batsman Shazam Babwah will face a fitness test today before Trinidad and Tobago’s third round match against Jamaica when the regional limited overs cricket championships continue at the Bourda Oval in Georgetown, Guyana. Babwah hurt the thumb on his left hand last Saturday in Trinidad and Tobago’s victory against Barbados at Enmore and has been receiving treatment in a bid to reduce the swelling and pain. The young batsman has been receiving therapy from team trainer Gerard Garcia and is racing against time to be fit for today’s encounter.

Yesterday team manager Omar Khan said Babwah’s inclusion in the middle order will strengthen the middle order, an area badly hit by the spate of injuries to several star players especially West Indies captain Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons. Khan said the top players were missed on Tuesday when Trinidad and Tobago failed to protect a score of 210 against hosts and defending champions Guyana and lost by five wickets at Albion. “We didn’t score sufficient runs. On that wicket we were looking for something in the region of 250. The defeat was unexpected and we are all disappointed,” said Khan yesterday in a telephone interview from the Grand Coastal Inn. He said the Albion wicket was a bit damp from the preparation and assisted the Guyana bowlers. The Trinidad and Tobago batsmen were also restricted early on and the innings was further set back with the loss of the wickets of opening match heroes Imran Jan and Sherwin Ganga.

However a tremendous knock of 101 not out by captain Daren Ganga who teamed up with Ricardo Powell to put back some respectability into the Trinidad and Tobago innings. Khan was full of praise yesterday for Ganga. “It was an excellent innings by Ganga who led from the front. He batted throughout and remained undefeated,” said Khan. But Guyana, piloted by an equally superb batting performance from their skipper Shivnarine Chander-paul who scored 87 not out reached their target with ten balls to spare with the loss of five wickets. “It was a class performance from an experienced batsman. All credit to him,”said Khan yesterday. “Our plan was to dislodge him early and stem the flow of runs but it didn’t work.” However he remained optimistic that the fighting qualities displayed by the young team will serve them in good stead in the remaining matches of the tournment and in the future.

“By no means we are out of it. There are three more matches starting with Jamaica and we go back to square one. “Our aim is to get into the last four,” said Khan. He said the bowling department is also seriously restricted with the absence of Bravo, Ravi Rampaul and Dave Mohammed but the young players are learning quickly and absorbing all the experience they are getting at First-Class level. “There are positive signs all around. Richard Kelly is an example of the kind of attitude these guys have. Even after the defeat he said that it was a privilege to bowl to Chanderpaul in Tuesday’s match,” said Khan. Yesterday the team had another training session at the LBI Ground and will go to Bourda for today’s match hoping to make amends for their loss on Tuesday. They come up against a Jamaica team full of experienced players including Test opener Chris Gayle, wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh who is in great batting form and allrounder Wavel Hinds.