Barnwell, Singh teams square off in first practice match

The Chris Barnwell-led Guyana Jaguars cricket team will face off against a Vishaul Singh XI in the first of two 50 overs-a-side practice matches organised by the Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) franchise.

Today’s match is set to bowl off at 9:30hrs at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.

The two matches are part of the Jaguars’ preparatory camp ahead of the 2015 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/NAGICO Regional Super 50 tournament which commences on January 15 in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

The Jaguars, whose 14-man squad led by the West Indies T20 all-rounder Barnwell was named on Monday, will look to get themselves organised ahead of the tournament with good performances in the two matches and will also look to correct any errors team-wise or personally.

Today, Singh’s XI bowlers will look to get the better of the national team’s batsmen in Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Raymon Reifer, Royston Crandon, Johnathan Foo, Anthony Bramble and Steven Jacobs.

Chandrika, Griffith, Crandon, Bramble and Foo were sublime during the 2014 senior Inter-County competition and practice matches with each of them notching up centuries during the competition.

Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer says he is coming to make a statement when he joins the Guyana Jaguars for the upcoming regional four-day season which commences next month.
Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer says he is coming to make a statement when he joins the Guyana Jaguars for the upcoming regional four-day season which commences next month.
Christopher Barnwell
Christopher Barnwell

While Bramble, Chandrika and Reifer have scored decent runs during the first leg of the WICB Regional four-day competition, the players will now look to stamp their authority against the less imposing bowling attack of the opposition.

The national team’s bowling includes the number one and three leading wicket-takers in the regional four-day tournament so far in spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo.

The fast-bowlers in Paul Wintz and Ronsford Beaton will be keen on finding their rhythm before the actual tournament commences with Wintz not having played since the Inter-County competition.

All-rounders Reifer and Barnwell played well during the four-day competition, contributing decently with both bat and ball and will now seek to build on their form during these two games.

All eyes will be on Foo who has been able to show the public that he

has managed to become a responsible batsman.

Singh’s XI however should be no pushover with the abundance of talent and experience lurking in both of departments as well as the opportunity for the Pay for Play cricketers in that side to make strong cases for themselves in the future.

Openers Kandasammy Surujnarine, who made strong statements during the Inter-County competition and Kevon Boodie who is the only player to ever score an Inter-County 50 overs double century, will definitely need to set the foundation at the top while Robin Bacchus who was not picked in the final 14 will have a chance to redeem himself during the next two matches.

The match is set to bowl off at 9:30 sharp and players are asked to be present at the venue at 8:00hrs.

Guyana Jaguars- Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Raymon Reifer, Chris Barnwell, Royston Crandon, Johnathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Kemol Savory and Paul Wintz

Vishaul Singh XI- Kandasammy Surujnarine, Kevon Boodie, Narsingh Deonarine, Vishaul Singh, Ricardo Adams, Chandarpaul Hemraj, Robin Bacchus, Jason Sinclair, Amir Khan, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Anthony Adams and Gudakesh Motie.