Guyana is looking to rebound from their ten-wicket defeat by Barbados in the first round of the 2004 Carib Beer four-day regional first class competition by claiming at least first innings points against Jamaica.
The two teams go head to head from today at Sabina Park in the island's capital and both will be hoping for an improved performance in the eight-team competition. Double defending champions Barbados and West Indies 'B' hold the early lead with outright wins in the first round.
The Windward Islands, led by a career best of 63 from off-spinner Shane Shillingford, 55 from Daren Sammy and 45 from Fernix Thomas recovered from 101 for six to reach 273. They took first innings points against Jamaica in St Lucia.
Devon Smith, overlooked by the West Indies selectors for the one-day series in South Africa, smashed a brilliant unbeaten 118 in the second innings as the Jamaica bowling came under pressure.
Guyana's coach Albert Smith says his team will be looking to make a big total against a bowling attack heavily dependent on spin, on a track which should offer some early pace and bounce.
Despite the presence of Andre Richardson, left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham grabbed seven wickets in the match and along with skipper Gareth Breese and fellow off-spinner Nehemiah Perry, did the bulk of the bowling in the first round. Guyana, affected by a lack of proper preparation due to rain in Guyana and the loss of both of their pacers to injury, fought back well in the second innings against Barbados. Smith feels that the match practice gained in Barbados should improve their showing here.
Opener Azeemul Haniff made 74 when these two teams met in the second round last year at Sabina and his opening partner Sewnarine Chattergoon batted wonderfully for his second innings (85) in Barbados. The two will hope to give Guyana a solid start. Krishna Arjune missed his second first-class hundred by three runs in Barbados, while Travis Dowlin looked close to his old form in his second innings 40 in that game. Mahendra Nagamootoo also looked good in Barbados and if Lennox Cush and the extremely talented Narsingh Deonarine could get some runs here with
support from skipper Neil McGarell and Vishal Nagamootoo then Guyana could build a challenging total to defend.
Rayon Griffith, who can also hold his own with the bat, is back in the side after missing the first match due to injury and should share the new ball with Essequiban Reon Thomas. Thomas has also been cleared to play after pulling up with a side strain in the first round, after bowling just five balls in the game.
While without Esan Crandon who will miss today's game due to a fractured finger on his left hand sustained in the last game, Guyana has the experienced spin pair of Nagamootoo and McGarell to call on with support from off-spinners Cush and Deonarine. Nagamootoo and McGarell, who both have Test experience, bowled badly in the first game and will be looking to improve Guyana hunt their first points in the competition.
Without regular opener Chris Gayle (West Indies duties), Leon Garrick (not selected) and Wavel Hinds and Marlon Samuels (injured), Jamaica has an inexperienced batting line up. Only Breese has more than 30 regional first-class matches under his belt.
However, the young guns, Tamar Lambert (38 and 76 on debut) and Donavan Pagan batted well in the first round. And along with stand-in opener Keith Hibbert, who has scored three of his five first-class half-centuries against Guyana; Mario Ventura; all-rounders David Bernard, Breese and the experienced Perry; Jamaica has a batting line up capable of runs against a Guyana team whose strength is its batting.
The last time the two teams met, the game ended in a draw at Bourda but not before Guyana was asked to follow on, being all out for 236 and chasing Jamaica's 387. The home team, led by 50 from Dowlin and solid unbeaten twenties from the Nagamootoo brothers, reached 195 for six in their second innings when time expired to save the game.
Parchment made 95 in that game in a 135-run opening stand with Garrick (74) while Breese had seven scalps with his off- spin.
Nagamootoo (three for 131) and the hardly used leg spin of Chattergoon (four for nine) did the damage with the ball for Guyana. Andre Percival, who might have been unlucky to be left out in Barbados, got a first innings undefeated half-century.
The 29-year-old Percival could again be on the bench along with his injured Rose Hall Town teammate Crandon for this game.
Guyana will know that the first session will be very crucial if they bat first since the Jamaican pacers will test the batsmen with short balls.
This ploy has worked well for teams opposing Guyana away from home since apart from Hooper, Chanderpaul, Sarwan and, when he is in good nick, Cush, none of the batsmen seem willing to take on the fast bowlers on tracks with some bounce.
With Jamaica missing most of their senior players, Guyana, if they play positive and consistent cricket, could come out on top in this clash.
The Guyana team arrived here on Tuesday morning and had their final practice session at Sabina Park yesterday afternoon. Skipper McGarrell feels that his team will do a lot better in the second round.
"We had a feel of some cricket in the middle on a pitch with some bounce in Barbados after some rain and really slow and low pitches in Guyana so I am sure we will do better here. The batsmen seem to be coming into their own and it should only be a matter of time for someone like Cush or Deonarine to get a score" McGarrell said.
Breese said that although he was disappointed that his side lost first innings points to the Windwards he was pleased that most of the young players had good performances. "Our bowlers did not produce enough wicket taking balls but all in all I think a lot of positives came out of our first round game from the newer players."
The Jamaican captain, who is looking to retain his place in the West Indies side, said that although Guyana lost badly to Barbados this should be a tough game. "Guyana has always been a tough game for us and I think we will see another interesting battle."
The umpires are Norman Malcome from Jamaica and Dalton Holder from Barbados and the action starts at 10 am (11 am Guyana time).