Barbados out for revenge
published:
Friday | February 22, 2008
Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Dwayne Smith - File
COOLIDGE (Antigua):
WHEN WEST Indies legend Lance Gibbs shouts "Bar-bados, Trinidad and Tobago, let's get it on!" to signal play to start in the first Stanford 20/20 semi-final tonight, Bajan skipper Dwayne Smith will launch his team's revenge mission.
Smith did not hold anything back when he said Barbados will be out to avenge their semi-final defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural tournament in 2006.
In the last tournament, Barbados, replying to T&T's 144 for nine, were blown away for 96 in 18.2 overs.
"The guys are really upset about it (last tournament's defeat) and we are ready to change that around this time and to make them upset with us," said Smith, one of four West Indies players in the Barbados squad.
Proving a point
"It's a grudge match for us," said Smith after his team's quarter-final win over Grenada last Friday. "The guys are really going to be up for it," he added, saying, "we really have to prove our point and go out there and beat Trinidad."
In their two matches, Barbados' batting has looked far from impressive but they were bailed out by their bowlers - especially Sulieman Benn, who bowled four overs for fours runs against Grenada while picking up two wickets.
Benn also helped Barbados defend 103 against Dominica, picking up 3-11 off four overs and will again lead their bowling attack against T&T tonight. He should get support from Khalid Springer, who got 4-20 against Dominica, Derrick Bishop, who took 3-19 against Grenada, along with Tino Best and Dwayne Smith.
Psychological edge
The batting has not clicked yet, but Jonathan Carter and Ryan Hinds have struck some form, the former with a half century, while the latter is yet to be dismissed. Smith, Dale Richards and Patrick Browne are all capable batsmen and cannot be taken lightly.
T&T's captain, Daren Ganga, believes his team will have a psychological edge, not only because of Barbados' batting woes but because they have beaten them in recent 20/20 and 50-over contests.
"We have to respect Barbados. They have earned the right just as us to compete in the semi-finals and we are going into the match as if it is the final," Ganga said.
"We have to ensure that we play a proper cricket match in order to defeat the Barbadians and get into the finals. We are aware of the strength of the opposition and we know of our strength and it is now just a matter of planning well and executing," the West Indies Test player said.
T&T batting in good hands
T&T have won both their games convincingly, first spearheaded by Dave Mohammed's figures of 5-8 and a 75-run opening stand between Lendl Simmons and William Perkins when they beat St Lucia by eight wickets, and again by Perkins' 56 and Dwayne Bravo's 62 in a 86-run fourth-wicket stand which led them to 166 and victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines (107).
So, again, with Perkins, Bravo, captain Ganga, his brother Sherwin, Keiron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin and Simmons, Trinidad and Tobago's batting is in good hands.
Their bowling, especially going up against Barbados, will be spin-based and Mohammed, Sherwin Ganga, Samuel Badree and Daren Ganga should fancy their chances.
However, Smith believes as long as they deliver on the day, Barbados will win.
"We have to be good all-round, so as long as we are good all-round (on the day), I don't see any team beating Barbados," he said.
