Ja ready to unleash on Windwards
published: Sunday | October 5, 2003
JAMAICA, FRESH from their impressive victory over the Leeward Islands XI and bubbling with confidence, take on the Windward Islands at Alpart today in the Red Stripe Bowl tournament and, looking at both teams, they should make it two from two.
Favourites to win the title, Jamaica, who nailed the Leeward Islands XI by 104 runs on Friday after blasting 281 for seven off the allotted 50 overs and dismissing the opposition for 177, boast a nicely balanced team and should be too good for the Windward Islands who, like the home team, are on one from one after scoring 196 for six and routing Canada for 69 at Jamalco on Thursday.
With openers Christopher Gayle and Brenton Parchment to be followed by Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell and captain Robert Samuels and then Gareth Breese, David Bernard Jnr. and Carlton Baugh Jnr., the Jamaica batting is strong, and with fast bowlers Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor supported by medium-pacer Bernard, offspinners Breese, Gayle and Marlon Samuels, and, if necessary, the medium-pace of Hinds and the offspin of Ricardo Powell, so too is bowling.
In comparison, the Windward Islands are not as balanced. Although their bowling looks good, their batting, despite the presence of the left-handed Devon Smith, is suspect, and even though captain Rawl Lewis is capable of a few runs at number six, a lot will depend on Smith and Romel Currency at the top of the order, Kirsten Casimir, Junior Murray and John Eugene.
