Defending champions Barbados know they need to beat Guyana today in their crucial zone ‘B’ Red Stripe Bowl regional one-day cricket encounter at the ARG ground, to stay in contention for a place in the final four.

The Bajans, who suffered a shock defeat to home team Antigua and Bermuda, will be looking to their test batsmen - Sherwin Campbell, Floyd Reifer, Ryan Hinds and skipper Courtney Browne to carry the batting. Ryan Hurley, Dwyane Smith and Dale Richards, the only Bajan to score a century in last years competition, are also capable of getting runs at this level.

The Bajan bowling will centre-around Vasbert Drakes, Cory Collymore, Ian Bradshaw and the spin of Hurley and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn. Fast- bowling brothers Pedro Collins and Fidel Edwards are expected to be left out today with Drakes and Collymore being the preferred choices.

Guyana, with wins in both of their games, will once again be depending on their test batsmen skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan to give them a big score.

Ryan Ramdas has looked good at the top of the order and with Narsingh Deonarine back in the side after missing the last game due to illness, the Guyana batting is strong.

Travis Dowlin could lose his place in the side because, even though Lennox Cush has failed in both games so far, he is a vital part of the bowling attack with his off-spin.

Mahendra Nagamootoo and Neil McGarrell, who have both bowled below their usual high standards, will bolster the batting along with wicket-keeper Vishal Nagamootoo.

Guyana Manager Carl Moore told Stabroek News yesterday that he was pleased with the improvement shown by his team from the first match, although he feels there is much room for improvement in the bowling department.

Moore says playing against the two weaker teams in the first two games was advantageous for his team since, although they did not play as well as they should, they still managed to walk away with two wins.

“We lost to Barbados in the semi-final last year and with them (Barbados) knowing they have to win tomorrow (today) we expect a real hard match and we are prepared for that,” Moore said

The Guyana manager said that he was a bit worried that his side has not been able to get any practice at all since their last match due to rain and wet practice facilities at Jolly Beach Hotel where the team is staying.

Barbados Manager Henderson Springer said his team is on a do-or-die effort today since if they lose, it means the end of the competition for them.

“We will be at full strength today with Collymore fully fit and Drakes coming back.

“We have consistently fallen behind the targets we have set both as a team and as individual players.

“Everybody has to pull his weight today if we hope to advance to the final four,” Springer said.

Kirk Edwards, who injured his thumb in the first match against UWI is hoping to be fit enough to play today.

Guyana, along with Antigua and Barbuda lead the points table with eight points from two matches while Barbados are on five points from two matches, one point behind the West Indies under-19 team which has six points from three matches. UWI, with three loses are in the cellar on three points.

Today’s game starts at 9:35am.