Left: SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL. Right: REON KING - FILE PHOTOS
BRIDGETOWN, CMC:
IN WHAT is anticipated to be a competitive affair, Barbados and Guyana square off in their Carib Beer Challenge semi-final at the Carlton Club, starting today.
While Barbados are boosted by the availability of recovering fast bowlers Corey Collymore and Pedro Collins, Guyana are hard hit by the absence of the injured captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Barbados took first innings honours in a drawn match against Guyana in the opening round of the competition last November, and even in the absence of Chanderpaul and Sarwan, captain Ryan Hinds is expecting a big challenge from the visitors.
"They gave us a good run early in the year without the likes of Chanderpaul and Sarwan," Hinds said.
"They are not to be underestimated. They are playing very good team cricket. It is going to be very keen battle. Guyana always give us a good fight."
Barbados finished second in the Cup segment of the competition, level on 36 points with eventual winners Trinidad and Tobago, who clinched the title on account of winning the head-to-head encounter with Barbados.
After a slow start, Guyana picked up the momentum to finish third on 30 points.
Captain Reon King conceded it was a big blow to lose Chanderpaul and Sarwan.
BIG BOOST
"Losing Shiv and Ronnie is very big boots to fill, but we have youngsters who are eager and hungry to play," King said.
"Losing Shiv is another lost as leader. Shiv has led the Guyana team very well in the past. There has been great respect for him as leader and a leading batsman."
The team which comes out on top in this match will meet the side which gains honours in the other semi-final between Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands at Guaracara Park.
Despite a two-month break to accommodate West Indies players returning from the recent tour of New Zealand, both sides are geared up for battle and fine-tuned preparations with practice sessions yesterday.
"We're pretty much ready. We had a couple months off. Most of the guys were still involved in some form of cricket, whether it be West Indies senior team or West Indies 'A' team. The guys who were not involved were in training," Hinds said after Barbados completed training at Queen's Park, just on the outskirts of the city.
Guyana, who arrived in Barbados yesterday morning, practised in the afternoon at the Police Sports Club. "We didn't do a lot of work as a team together in the time leading up to this match, but most of the members were involved playing cricket," King said. "Some were at home playing in local competitions and some were in Trinidad."
TEAMS: BARBADOS - Ryan Hinds (captain), Dale Richards, Wayne Blackman, Dwayne Smith, Floyd Reifer, Alcindo Holder, Kirk Edwards Patrick Browne, Ian Bradshaw, Tino Best, Ryan Austin, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Jason Bennett.
GUYANA: Reon King (captain), Krishna Arjune, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson, Travis Dowlin, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Derwin Christian, Neil McGarrell, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Esaun Crandon, Imran Jaferally.
