ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Leaders Jamaica will return to action this weekend on home soil while Barbados are set to extend their long-standing rivalry with Trinidad and Tobago when they play hosts in the feature game of the Regional Four-Day Championship fourth round which bowls off today.
T&T boast a perfect 2-0 record in the tournament to date, and will be in high spirits after pulling off a massive innings victory over the Leeward Islands at Queen’s Park Oval in the last round.
Trinidad maybe missing several of the key players because of West Indies duty but they have been no less potent, with the likes of young Akeal Hosein and Steven Katwaroo stepping to the fore in the batting department.
The left-handed Hosein was good enough to carve out an attractive century in only his fourth first class game against the Leewards.
T&T also have the experience of West Indies left-hander Darren Bravo and Adrian Barath to depend on, making for an enterprising batting line-up.
Pacer Shannon Gabriel will lead the T&T attack that also includes skipper Rayad Emrit and leg-spinner Imran Khan, who had a five-wicket haul against the Leewards last week.
Barbados, in contrast, have won just one of their three matches, and will be keen on taking some crucial points from this contest. They lie fourth on 27 points, just seven behind T&T, but will want to keep pace with their rivals especially after their disappointing draw against Combined Campuses and Colleges in the last round.
West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards celebrated his return to the side with a hundred against CCC and captain Kraigg Brathwaite was also among the runs with 91, and both will be key to the hosts’ run-getting.
West Indies seamers Jason Holder and Tino Best, along Carlos Brathwaite will comprise the pace attack but much will depend on left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn and Ashley Nurse who have been incisive this season.
Barbados enter this weekend’s contest at Kensington Oval with an enviable record in this format against T&T, boasting four victories over the last two years.
Meanwhile, Jamaica will look to extend their lead in the competition when they face off against Windward Islands at Sabina Park in Kingston.
The Jamaicans are on 35 points having won both their matches and will fancy their chances of extending their dominance over the Windwards which has seen them win eight of their 17 matches since the turn of the century.
The Windwards are third on 29 points.
