By Tony Becca, Senior Sport EditorJAMAICA CONTINUE their bid for a place in the semi-finals of the Carib Beer Shield at Sabina Park today when they take on India A in their final match of the preliminary round of the Carib Beer Series.
With 39 points in the bag after two victories, one loss and three draws, Jamaica, 21 points behind Barbados who have already won the Carib Beer Cup, are in second place and well positioned to finish among the top four.
Although Guyana, 36 points, the Leeward Islands, 34, Trinidad and Tobago, 31, and the Windward Islands, 30, are all within striking distance, two of the other matches scheduled are Guyana versus the Windward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago against the Leeward Islands.
Only two can win or gain first innings points, and although it could happen it is hardly likely that three of them can step pass Jamaica.
It could happen, however.
With 12 points for a win, six for first innings lead in a drawn match, and four for losing after leading on first innings, it could happen, for example, if Guyana win first innings points and then lose to the Windward Islands, if the Leeward Islands win first innings points from Trinidad and Tobago, if Trinidad and Tobago defeat the Leeward Islands, and if Jamaica fail to get any points from India A.
Jamaica, however, are confident that they will finish in the top four regardless of what happens elsewhere; and that confidence stems from the fact that, but for the absence of fast bowler Jermaine Lawson who is nursing an injured right thigh and has been ruled out of the match, they are now at full strength and should be too strong for the Indians who are on 21 points and next to the foot of the ladder after losing to the Windward Islands and Barbados, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, gaining first innings points from the Leeward Islands and dropping first innings points to Guyana.
As far as their batting is concerned, Jamaica have every reason to be bubbling with confidence. With Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels and Ricardo Powell back from the World Cup and joining captain Robert Samuels, David Bernard Jnr., Gareth Breese, Keith Hibbert and possibly Leon Garrick, the batting is strong and long and should be too good for India's attack of pacers Avishkar Salvi, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Murali Kartik, and spinners Jai Yadav and Amit Mishra.
With Lawson out, Jamaica's concern is their bowling. Jerome Taylor, the young fast bowler who preened himself with eight for 59 against Trinidad and Tobago, has been impressive - and so too the fast-medium Bernard.
Not so, however, fast bowler Daren Powell who was on the Windies standby list for the World Cup, or left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham who was so good last year.
With not much from which to choose, Jamaica may be tempted to go in with an attack of Daren Powell, Taylor, Bernard and offspinner Breese with Hinds and his medium-pace, Gayle, Ricardo Powell, Marlon Samuels and their offspin in support.
Although the Indians, but for their second innings 402 for three against Guyana, have not impressed so far, however, if they get going that may not be good enough against Vangipurappu Laxman, Akash Chopra, who scored 174 against Guyana, Gautam Gambhir, Connor Williams and Hemang Badani, and with Bernard, Breese and Hibbert to back up Gayle, Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell and Robert Samuels, Jamaica may be well advised to go in with bowler Cunningham instead of batsman Garrick.
All Jamaica need to win a place in the final four is first innings points and looking at the Jamaica team, looking at India A's performance, Jamaica should come out on top at the end of a match that, despite the green look of the Sabina Park pitch, should be dominated by batsmen.
TODAY'S GAMES
Guyana vs Windwards at Albion
Leewards vs Trinidad at St. Thomas, USVI
W.I. 'B' vs Barbados in Barbados
