PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Surprise semi-finalists Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners are well aware pundits have already given them precious little chance against a star-studded Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the second semi-final of the NAGICO Super50 here today.
However, the odds placed against them are unlikely to shake their confidence as they gear up for what is expected to be an extremely tough encounter against a Red Force squad who played unbeaten in the preliminary round and who will be highly motivated playing before their home crowd at Queen’s Park Oval.
Marooners captain Chadwick Walton said despite the tall order, Marooners were confident they could pull off an upset by playing smart, sensible cricket.
“As with any other game we will be under pressure, and it’s a semi-final so if you don’t win you can’t advance, so that in itself is enough pressure already. Playing as a team, I don’t think the fellas are a bit worried. We just need to go out there and do what we need to do,” said the West Indies second string gloveman.
“We have to keep the cricket simple and remain calm and positive, and try to execute under pressure. There are some key wickets that we need like those of the senior players such as the Bravos (Dwayne and Darren), (Kieran) Pollard, and we have to keep a close eye on (Sunil) Narine – a seasoned campaigner and one of the world’s best. We need to keep a close eye on those fellas.”
Marooners were the most unlikely of semi-finalists, especially after their first two games of the preliminary round were washed out. However, in a dramatic final game, they beat Guyana by one wicket with a ball to spare, to clinch their spot in the final four.
Walton said an all-round effort would be required from Marooners, if they were to beat the strong T&T outfit, and pointed out that the youth element of the side could prove the trump card.
“I can’t really pinpoint a strength because it’s a very balanced team. It’s also a very young team and a very inexperienced team,” the Jamaican explained.
“That can also be our downfall but it can also be used to our advantage because they are very young, no one knows a lot about them so that in itself can work in our favour. But I can’t say the bowling is the strongest or the batting is the strongest.
“One thing I can tell you though is the ground fielding in the last game was very good and we hope to improve on that.”
T&T, meanwhile, boast a dream team, at least on paper. With the likes of the Bravo brothers, Kieron Pollard, Kevon Cooper, Ravi Rampaul and world class off-spinner Sunil Narine, there is already an air of inevitability about the outcome.
However, Red Force coach Gus Logie assured there would be no complacency in the Trinidadian camp.
“We will take all teams seriously, we will not underestimate any team. This is one-day cricket, this is cricket and anything can happen on the field of play,” the former West Indies player said.
“We can have the best team on paper but the game is played out there in the middle and the thought processes you put in out in the middle will come to your aid in the end. The CCC team possess a lot of players who have been around the circuit, they are experienced as well and they know exactly what they can do.
“We know exactly what we can do as well and we’re going to focus primarily on our game. We’re going to assess the opposition … and make sure we come up with the best plans to conquer what they have to offer.”
Despite the big names, Red Force’s batting has yet to really fire and Logie said he had already impressed on his players the need for patience and application.
“We’ve asked for a bit more determination from the individuals, we want them to be a little more patient and that’s all we can ask for at this point in time,” he noted.
“We know the players have the skill [but] it’s about shot selection, it’s about assessment, and the surface we’re going to play on I think we know exactly what to expect, so it’s about assessing and making sure we produce the right shots at the right time. We have the ability to do so and it’s about application.”
He added: “We’ve been in the nets and we’ve been practicing the specific areas we’re going to target and I hope we can execute in the middle.”
SQUADS:
RED FORCE – Rayad Emrit (captain), Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Derone Davis, Akeal Hosein, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Richards, Jeremy Solozano, Nicholas Sookdeosingh.
MAROONERS – Chadwick Walton (captain), Ryan Austin, Cassius Burton, Keron Cottoy, Kavem Hodge, Kyle Hope, Kyle Mayers, James McDonald, Paul Palmer, Chris Powell, Rovman Powell, Kristopher Ramsaran, Shacaya Thomas, Kesrick Williams.
