TT seek revenge over Jamaica

ALTHOUGH suffering from a major setback with injury to Test player Dwayne Bravo, Trinidad and Tobago are aiming to whip the Jamaicans in their Carib Beer Cricket Series eighth round match which starts at Shaw Park, Tobago, from 10 am today. Skipper Daren Ganga and his youthful team showed remarkable resilience and tenacity for a sensational come-from-behind seven-wicket victory over the Windward Islands on Sunday last.

Boosted by this victory engineered by fast bowlers Richard Kelly and Test pacer Mervyn Dillon who together shot out Windwards for a paltry 67 in their second innings, TT will enter this match with a much more positive attitude than when they were beaten in the first round game  at Alpart Sports Complex in Jamaica Having avenged their defeat by the Windwards, Trinidad and Tobago will be looking to do the same against the Jamaicans. But the Trinidadians will be facing a confident Jamaican team who have demolished all opposition faced to date except their rained out game against Guyana.

Dave Mohammed, overlooked for two matches, returns to add some variety to the Trinidad and Tobago spin attack. The Shaw Park pitch will suit his style especially after the second day when the pitch is expected to play tricks and keep low. Rishi Bachan, the replacement player for the injured Bravo, could prove a handful if he plays. Jamaica have five players with Test experience in captain Wavell Hinds, Dave Bernard Jnr, Carlton Baugh, Darren Powell and Jerome Taylor, while TT have four in Ganga, Ricardo Powell (former Jamaican player), Dillon and Mohammed. Jamaica’s manager described his team as “a very good blend of youth and experience and are up for the challenge.”

Teams: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (from): Daren Ganga (capt), Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Imran Khan, Ricardo Powell, Richard Kelly, Rayad Emrit, Mervyn Dillon, Rishi Bachan, Amit Jaggernauth, Samuel Badree and Gregory Mahabir.
Officials are Giles Antoine (manager), David Williams (coach), Gerard Garcia (trainer) and Rohit Balkissoon (scorer).
JAMAICA (from):  Wavell Hinds (capt), Tamar Lambert, Donovan Pagon, Brendon Parchment, Dave Bernard jnr, Carlton Baugh, Darren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Nikita Miller, Dwight Washington, Odean Brown and Bevon Brown.
Officials are Maurice Clarke (manager), Robert Haynes (coach) and Dave Bernard snr (trainer).
Umpires are Terrence Birbal (TT) and Dalton Holder (Barbados). Standby is Camal Basdeo (TT).