THE SECOND ROUND of the 2005 Carib Beer Series bowls off today with early leaders Jamaica facing the Windward Islands in one of three matches at Beausejour Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.Fresh from their comprehensive 176-run victory over the Leeward Islands on Monday, Jamaica on the maximum 12 points, face an unpredictable Windward Islands team which is yet to see action this season.
The Windwards, on four points, watched from the pavilion at the 3W's Oval for all four days in Barbados as rain bowled over their opening round match against Barbados.
Going in search of their second straight win, the young and inexperienced Jamaica side will once again bank on its captain, Tamar Lambert, and Donovan Pagon, both of whom got half centuries against Leewards, along with David Bernard Jr. and Carlton Baugh Jr. for runs.
MAIN CONCERN
However, although the bowlers have been backing up the batsmen, Jamaica's main concern is the weakness of its openers in the first match. Between Maurice Kepple and Shawn Findlay they managed only 30 runs in opening stands of only 25 and five.
What Jamaica, who lost six prime players - four to West Indies duty and two to injury, have going in their favour is knocking over opposing batsmen at regular intervals.
Fast bowlers Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor, along with medium pacer Bernard Jr., left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and legspinner Odean Brown, all supported their new captain in the first match.
On the other hand, the Windwards have had the better of Jamaica over the past few seasons and they can take some comfort from that.
With players of the calibre of Devon Smith, Junior Murray, Deighton Butler, Darren Sammy and Shane Shillingford they are more than capable of creating problems for the young Jamaicans; particularly at home.
JAMAICA (from): Tamar Lambert (captain), Carlton Baugh, Jr., Dave Bernard, Jr., Bevon Brown, Odean Brown, Shawn Findlay, Keith Hibbert, Lorenzo Ingram, Maurice Kepple, Nikita Miller, Donovan Pagon, Daren Powell, and Jerome Taylor.
WINDWARD ISLANDS (from): Rawl Lewis (captain), Devon Smith (vice-captain), Deighton Butler, Craig Emmanuel, Sergio Fedee, Junior Murray, Marvin Noel, Jean Paul, Kenroy Peters, Darren Sammy, Liam Sebastien, Hyron Shallow, Shane Shillingford
STANDINGS
Jamaica 12
Barbados 4
Guyana 4
Trinidad & Tobago 4
Windward Islands 4
Leeward Islands 0
SECOND-ROUND GAMES
Windward Islands vs Jamaica at Gros Islet
Leeward Islands vs Guyana at Charlestown
Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago at Crab Hill
