Christie Jones BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):
The Jamaica Under-19 cricketers, who finished in a creditable runner-up position in the TCL Group West Indies Cricket Challenge three-day competition, will start favourites against Trinidad and Tobago in the Limited Overs Series starting today.
The game is set for a 9:30 a.m. (10:30a.m. Ja. time) start at the Cayon Sporting Complex.
Led by Derval Green, the Jamaicans ended up in second place to Guyana in the league championship that finished Saturday and will be looking to go one better in the shorter version of the game.
When the teams met in the opening round of the league, Jamaica came out on top with first innings lead and this time around will go all out for a win in the 50-overs-a-side contest.
There were several outstanding performances by the Jamaicans in their initial clash in the league series, with openers Horace Miller, Christie Jones and Jamie Merchant all scoring half-centuries.
Former Jamaica and West Indies youth wicketkeeper/batsman Andre Coley, the team coach, will be hoping that the trio will continue in that same form for today's contest, with support from the talented Andre Creary.
Thorn in batting line up
In the bowling department, leg-spinner Nkruma Bonner was a thorn in Trinidad and Tobago's batting line up taking 11 for 129 in the encounter.
Bonner will have the support of fast bowler Jason Dawes, Creary and off-spinner Jamie Merchant.
Dawes has impressed so far and will be targeting a decent performance with the three West Indies selectors - Gordon Greenidge, Clyde Butt and Andy Roberts - looking on.
Butts has been present for the duration of the tournament, which started on July 24, while Roberts and Greenidge were expected in the island yesterday.
Led by Adrian Barath, Trinidad and Tobago - winners in 2003 in Guyana and 2005 in St Vincent and the Grenadines - will be looking to bounce back from their dismal showing in the three-day competition with a victory.
T&T received a big blow ahead of today's opener with injury forcing medium-pacer Marlon Richards out of the first two matches.
T&T will again rely on skipper Barath, the talented Darren Bravo, opening batsman Milton Dookeran and to lesser extent wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Balgobin to score the runs.
Promising off-spinner Varoon Samaroo, who bagged 23 wickets in the three-day championship, will again spearhead the bowling attack, with support from medium-pacers Kavon Cooper and Jervon Charles.
