TT hunt regional cricket double

The final of the Carib Beer Challenge bowls off at 10 am today when the Daren Ganga-led home team take on the Ryan Hinds captained Bajans at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Two months ago, TT spanked the Bajans by 264 runs in Barbados to secure the Carib Beer Series crown, and the odds are clearly staked in favour of the Trinidadians once again.

There is no doubt that their confidence will be sky-high following the 391-run demolition of the Windward Islands at the same venue in last week’s semi-finals.

And the return of Brian Lara to the TT team will not only bring out the crowds but ensure that interest will remain high to the end.

The 36-year-old triple world record holder, who is backed by many cricket scribes and commentators to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul as West Indies’ captain, is likely to make the final eleven in place of Sherwin Ganga, who has had a poor run of form this season.

Jason Mohammed, the national Under-19 captain and “Man-of-the-Match” versus the Windwards, is expected to play today, after he was involved in a vehicular accident on Wednesday night.

The batting will clearly rely on Lara, Daren Ganga, Denesh Ramdin, Mohammed, openers Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo.

The bowling attack will comprise pacers Mervyn Dillon, Richard Kelly and Rayad Emrit, with support from spinners Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth who both wreaked havoc on the Windwards batsmen last weekend.

Barbados may not have the quality batting lineup as the hosts, but will be expecting good returns from captain Hinds and Dwayne Smith, who are both capable of carrying the attack to the opposing bowlers.

The Bajans, who earned a first-innings triumph against Guyana in the other semi-final, will also be wary of their inexperienced opening pair of Dale Richards and Wayne Blackman, but they will be heartened by the fact that the evergreen Floyd Reifer hit a valiant century against the Guyanese.

Traditionally, Barbados have produced an array of fast bowlers, with the West Indies quartet of Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Ian Bradshaw and Tino Best among their 13-member team.

All four could start today, or one may be omitted in favour of Trinidad-born off-spinner Ryan Austin.

SQUADS:

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO — Daren Ganga (capt), Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Mohammed, Denesh Ramdin, Richard Kelly, Rayad Emrit, Mervyn Dillon, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Adrian Barath, Samuel Badree.

BARBADOS — Ryan Hinds (capt), Dale Richards, Wayne Blackman, Kirk Edwards, Dwayne Smith, Floyd Reifer, Alcindo Holder, Patrick Browne, Ian Bradshaw, Tino Best, Ryan Austin, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore.