Amazon Warriors sharpen skills

With just three more days left before the start of the 2014 Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 tournament, last year’s runner-up the Guyana Amazon Warriors are continuing their rigorous training and practice matches at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence ahead of Thursday’s opening match against the Antigua Hawksbill.

The local players, the likes of Leon Johnson, Trevon Griffith, Robin Bacchus, Ronsford Beaton, Steven Jacobs and Veerasammy Permaul along with the Guyana Under-19 players, New Zealand’s opening batsman Martin Guptill and Trinidad & Tobago’s all-rounder Navin Stewart engaged in a series of net sessions, drills and practice matches in order to fully prepare themselves for the days ahead.

Leon Johnson dances down the track during yesterday’s net session
Leon Johnson dances down the track during yesterday’s net session

Playing their first practice game against a Guyana XI side, the Warriors team looked confident after defeating their opponents by seven runs in the first encounter after posting 137 from their 20 overs. Beaton got into his stride early with the ball, picking up 2-34 while the likes of Stewart (32) and a wicket, Griffith (18) and Bacchus (18) and a wicket, looked to get their feet moving at an early stage as their efforts restricted the Guyana XI to 131.

The second practice match played on Sunday, saw the international Guptill cracking 88, while contributions from Bacchus, Jacobs, and Stewart who all reached double figures on the Providence track helped their team reach a good score of 154, restricting the opposition to 127 all out.

Yesterday, the Warriors took it to the nets with the U19 players having a chance to find their feet, while the senior pair of Johnson and Guptill looking solid during their stints in the nets. Prior to the batting drills the players engaged in cardiovascular drills which featured sprints between cones while fetching a teammate and shuttles between the pairs which was done between the cones as well. The Warriors will break camp today as they prepare to wing out later on in the afternoon.