After an eventful start to the SBF Petroleum/Cricket Guy Incorporated Jaguars 50-over One-Day Franchise competition, the second round will commence today with the expected return of players from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Defending champions, Essequibo, who could be boosted by the inclusion of all-rounder, Keemo Paul, will want to continue their winning ways when they come up against Upper Corentyne at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road.
Essequibo opened their campaign with a massive 122-run victory over Georgetown and their captain, Anthony Adams, believes the side needs to carry the momentum into the next match.
“We’ve just got to take the momentum from the first game into this and maintain that discipline and intensity, but there is room for improvements,” Adams said.
He added: “The main batmen didn’t really get big scores however that wouldn’t happen again.”
Upper Corentyne suffered a nine-wicket loss to West Demerara in a rain hit match and will want to bounce back sharply by tightening the screws against the reigning champions especially since Anthony Bramble and Clinton Pestano are set to join the squad.
Skipper Shawn Pereira admitted his side didn’t have the best of starts but said his side wanted to put that behind and was looking forward to working on improving with every match.
The former national youth captain reckoned the side will be better with the returning players who add remarkable value to the team in both batting and bowling.
West Demerara will also want to maintain a perfect record when they face Georgetown at Tuschen.
West Demerara is expected to have the biggest boost with Barbados Tridents’ Raymon Reifer along with Romario Shepherd, two all-rounders who made their presence felt in the CPL set to return.
At Bush Lot, West Berbice, who is poised to include Shimron Hetmyer will be hosting East Bank Demerara.
In the opening round, West Berbice showed their dominance with a full-strength squad and with the boost of Hetmyer, West Berbice will be coming all guns blazing.
East Bank, who felt shortchanged in a rain-hit loss via Duckworth Lewis and Stern Method will welcome explosive batsman, Sherfane Rutherford back.
At Enmore Community Centre, East Coast will host Lower Corentyne who will have left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul joining them.
East Coast skipper, Amir Khan, pointed out the lack of experience in his side with only one franchise player in Chandrapaul Hemraj allocated. However, he added that it is uncertain if he will play, leaving the side with just two guys with experience at this level.
Khan explained that it is going to be a challenge but the team will give its best and look to get the upper hand.
Lower Corentyne’s captain, Jonathan Foo, fresh off a Man-of-the-Match performance, welcomed his team’s addition and indicated that the team needs to learn and adapt fast in order to continue winning with everyone understanding their roles.
