West Indies Cricket

BY KAYLA KARIM

The West Indies Championship is underway and the Guyana Jaguars are headed towards their fifth straight title. A strong bowling performance led by Romario Shepherd earned Guyana an important six-wicket victory over their rivals, Trinidad and Tobago. The match on March 10^th, 2019 was a day and night contest in Antigua over the course of three days.

Shepherd captured eight wickets in the tenth-round match at the Guyana National Stadium carrying his tally of scalps to 37 at 20.13 apiece, which led the Jags to their seventh win of the season. Devon Thomas his sixth first-class hundred, meanwhile West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph had eight wickets beating the Leeward Island Hurricanes with a six-wicket victory.

Jaguars captain Leon Johnson hit the top score of 76 and shared 111 for the third wicket anchoring his side towards the finish with the left-hander, Tagenarine Chanderpaul – the son of West Indies legend, Shivnarine Chanderpaul – who was not out on 43.

The final two matches of the West Indies Championship began in Trinidad on Wednesday, March 13^th, 2019. The Guyana Jaguars finished their matches for the season during the last round totaling 154.2 points. With this, they practically claimed the Headlet/Weekes Trophy for a fifth straight season.

In Antigua, the Hurricanes will look to gain a maximum of 24 points against the Barbados Pride in order to pass Guyana. The Jags are 23 points clear of the Leeward Island Hurricanes, a rival who has a mathematical chance of clinching the title. Although it would be tough, the Hurricanes would have to gain all points left to surpass the Jags for the titles by just one point. Despite the slim chances, the Hurricanes should not be ruled out as they have the batting and bowling to get the job done in addition to the fact that they are playing the best that they have been in nearly a decade. The familiar turf would also be a motivating factor in which can benefit the Hurricanes – where they beat the Pride in the season-opening match last December. Both teams will prepare for a star-studded Barbados Pride at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Jamaica Scorpions are aiming to finish the season on a positive note when they meet at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

With both of these teams out of the running, bragging rights will be the main focus in the contest between the Red Force and the Scorpions. Only two points separate the teams, who have both played quite inconsistent this season, are holding the last two spots in the standings. Red Force will look to have a clean sweep of this season’s matches and for Scorpions, their motivation will come from proving that they can succeed after champion left-arm spinner Nikita Miler retires.

Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad will host round one beginning on Thursday, March 14^th to Sunday, March 17^th between Red Force and the Scorpions at 10 am and round four between Hurricanes and Pride will commence at Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on Thursday, March 14^th at 10 am.