Billed as a match between two home teams because of the large Guyanese population her, Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana face-off today at the ARG in a crucial final preliminary round match in zone ‘B’ of the 2003 Red Stripe Bowl regional one-day cricket competition.

After a lack-lustre performance so far in the competition, it’s crunch time for Guyana as only a victory today will take them to Jamaica for the ‘final four’, which commences with the first semi-final on Thursday.

The capacity of the ARG is 12,000 and a large crowd is anticipated today with most of the Guyanese who live here expected to flock the ground with lots of Guyana flags, which were on sale in downtown St. Johns, yesterday.

Guyana’s Consul in Antigua Bobby Reis told Stabroek News yesterday that between 8,000 to 15,000 Guyanese live here. It is expected that they will again outnumber the Antiguans at the ARG today.

This is usually the case when football or cricket involving Guyana is contested on this island, which celebrates its twenty-second Independence anniversary on November 1.

“We are taking the whole family to the game tomorrow (today). This Guyana team is probably the worst we have seen in Antigua.

But we are fully behind our team,” Guyanese Nigel and Ruby Trellis declared.

The Antiguans have never qualified for the semis since they first began playing in the competition in 2001. Unbeaten so far this year and with the victory over Barbados still fresh in their memory, they are confident of beating Guyana.

While Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s captaincy has again been below par, the left-hander has been the only batsman who looked committed to the cause of his team. His 129 runs (Ave.43) include 66 and 47 in the first two games.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has not looked himself and his 91 in the second match is his only double figure score while his 23.5 overs of leg spin cost his team 133 runs as Chanderpaul strangely over-bowled him.

Ryan Ramdas looked good in his debut innings for 62, but rash shot- selection caused his down fall in his next two innings in which he managed just 17 runs.

Sewnarine Chattergoon has been consistent (116 runs Ave. 38) without going on and along with Ramdas and test players Chanderpaul and Sarwan, are the only Guyanese with fifties so far.

Lennox Cush has been very disappointing scoring 46 of his 48 runs in the last match before once again throwing his wicket away with a loose shot. Narsingh Deonarine batted well for 39 in the first game, missed the next due to illness before being run out by Cush for a duck in the last against Barbados.

Esaun Crandon (31) and Vishal Nagamotoo (22) salvaged some pride with an unfinished 50-run last wicket stand against Barbados after joining forces with their team on 141-9.

Mahendra Nagamootoo and Neil McGarell, both with test experience, have looked way below their best with the ball while pacers Reon Griffith and Eusan Crandon have been too short too often and both conceded over five runs per over in the last game.

While Guyana’s strength is its batting, Antigua’s strength is their bowling, led by pacer Kerry Jermey, who played four one-day matches for the West Indies.

Fast bowlers Carl Simon and Curtis Roberts and off-spinners Anthony Lake and Horace Waldron have all done well for the home team, led by Sylvester Joseph, also with One-Day Internationals under his belt.

Ian Tittle, Wilden Cornwal and the experienced Ridley Jacobs are all experienced, while Lake can lend support with the bat in the lower order in a side boasting eight Leeward Islands players. Guyana had their final practice yesterday and according to coach Albert Smith, there should be some changes in the team and batting-order for today’s game.

“We might look to separate our two best batsmen, Chanderpaul and Sarwan, who have batted at three and four, and maybe put Cush at three.” Smith disclosed.

“Our bowlers have let us down badly and we should see a big difference today ,since we know our only hope of reaching Jamaica is by beating Antigua”

The pitch is expected to be lively and the game is scheduled to start at 9:35 AM.