( L - R ) Gayle and Samuels

( L - R ) Taylor and Hinds

CAYON, St. Kitts (CMC)::

Jamaica will seek to rebound from a disappointing showing in the four-day fixture when they face Leeward Islands in the opening round of the KFC Cup one-day tournament today at St. Mary's Park.

The visitors conceded first innings points to the Leewards and then failed to get the outright win, as the Carib Beer Series opener finished in a draw.

However, with players to excite and explode in the one-day form of the game, Jamaica will be backing themselves to take the 50-overs encounter.

Batting line-up

Their batting will be led by West Indies opener, Chris Gayle, who has earned a reputation for one-day cricket, after 15 One-Day International centuries and a strike rate of 80.

He heads a line-up that is imposing on paper. Captain Wavell Hinds, who scored a century and a half-century in the drawn game Sunday, will also be looked to for runs along with the dashing Marlon Samuels and wicketkeeper-batsman Carlton Baugh.

They also have the bowling to restrict or dismiss any batting line-up. It is led by the fast bowling pair of Jerome Taylor and Jermaine Lawson, both of whom shone in the four-day game, and includes the stingy off-spin of Gayle and Samuels.

Full of confidence

Leewards will be buoyed by their strong performance in the four-day game and will enter the contest full of confidence, especially after their showing with the bat.

Captain Sylvester Joseph, who hit 97 last weekend, has found form and so has Runako Morton who got half-centuries in both innings against the Jamaican attack.

Omari Banks, with his second innings century, and Tonito Willett's attractive 89, would have also been comforting.

Leewards will also feel they have the bowling to dismiss the Jamaicans. Fast bowlers Adam Sanford, Gavin Tonge and Carl Simon will fancy their chances against the Jamaican batsmen with Banks providing the spin option.

In other games, reigning one-day champions Guyana will begin their title defence when they clash with Windward Islands at the Tanteen Recreation Ground, while Barbados, last year's beaten finalist and first-round leaders of the Carib Beer Series, will also be looking to make a winning start.

Staying focused

Buoyed by their three-wicket win in the opening round of the Carib Beer Series on Sunday, they face old rivals Trinidad & Tobago at the Carlton Sports Club.

The Barbadians are looking to complete an early season 'double' over their south Caribbean neighbours.

"T&T are our long-standing rivals, so it is important that we go out there, and play positively, but it''s a new day," their captain Ryan Hinds told reporters at a news conference yesterday. "We are very confident of winning, but we are staying focused."