The Guyana Harpy Eagles will play Windward Islands Volcanoes from February 9-12, 2022 and Leeward Islands Hurricanes from February 16-19, 2022. Both matches will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
Keemo Paul has been named vice-captain of the squad that includes, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Akshaya Persaud, Anthony Bramble, Tevin Imlach, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie Nial Smith, Clinton Pestano, Shimron Hetmyer, Keon Joseph and Antony Adams.
Meanwhile, Kemol Savory, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith and Demitri Cameron have been named among the reserves.
The squad and reserves are currently engaged in the third and final trial match at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence after which preparation will continue with intensive practice and fitness training under the watchful eyes of the team management led by Head Coach Esuan Crandon.
Johnson scored 62, Bramble 52 and Sinclair 69 for Guyana that also got useful contributions of 44 from Kemol Savory and 46 from Keemo Paul.
Guyana benefitted from solid middle-order batting that saw partnerships of 97 between Savory and Johnson before both were dismissed in quick succession after taking the score from 33-3.
A partnership of 79 between Bramble and Sinclair followed before Sinclair and Paul added 88 for the seventh wicket.
Imran Khan was the best of the Red Force bowlers taking 4-80 while Bryan Charkes snared 3-85 for Trinidad and Tobago who were seven without loss at stumps, 317 runs behind.
On Monday Guyana bowled the Windwards out for 153 before cruising to 155 for one with 128 balls to spare. It was a victory that would have boosted the confidence of the Jaguars knowing that they would face the same opponents again in the second of the two semi-finals three days later.
However, Johnson, whose side have not won the tournament in 16 years, say they are not taking anything for granted.
“We are not going to be complacent after a good victory on Monday. They have one of the better players, Kavem (Hodge) returning to strengthen their side,” he said.
“Windwards have beaten us in the semi-finals already, a couple of years ago, so obviously they’re not to be taken lightly. They have quality players in their side and in limited-overs cricket, it’s one day so the team that plays better on the day comes out victorious.”
The captain does concede, however, that his side will be under some pressure to break their 16-year drought in the tournament, having last won the 50-over title in 2005.
“Once you’re representing your country or your region there is always some pressure to perform,” he said.
“Guyana is a cricket-loving country and 16 years without a title, and we have produced some good players over the years, is sad to not win a title in 16 years is sad, but we take it one game at a time. But we first have a semi-final hurdle to cross.”
For tomorrow's semi-final, Guyana will bring in all-rounder Raymon Reifer and leg-spinner Veerasammy Permaul to replace wicketkeeper/batsman Kemol Savory and batsman Assad Fudadin.
Match time between the Guyana Jaguars and the Windward Island Volcanoes is set for 1:30 pm (12:30 Jamaica time) at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Pride were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against the Jaguars during their second-round match from January 16 to 19 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Johnson was fined and Smith reprimanded for Level 1 breaches of the Code during the fourth-round match between Jaguars and Jamaica Scorpions from February 6 -9, at the Guyana National Stadium.
Pride were reported by field umpires Danesh Ramdhanie and Christopher Taylor, as well as reserve umpire Troy Tudor, for being three overs short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
In accordance with Article 2.22 of the Code, which relates to minor over-rate offences, Pride captain Kraigg Brathwaite was fined 30 per cent of his match fee and the other members of the squad were fined 15 per cent of their match fee.
Brathwaite pleaded guilty to the offence after the match and accepted the proposed sanction from CWI match referee Stephen Proverbs, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
Under the regulations, minor over-rate offences occur when a team fails to bowl one to five overs short of their target in the allotted time.
The fine for a captain is 10 per cent of his match fee for every over his side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Other team members are penalised five per cent of their match fee for every over the team fails to bowl in the allotted time.
Johnson, the Jaguars captain, and pacer Smith admitted to their respective offences and accepted the imposition of the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for formal hearings.
Johnson and Smith were reported by field umpires Zahid Bassarath and Deighton Butler, as well as reserve umpire, Ryan Banwarie.
Having considered the umpires’ report, match referee Colin Stuart fined Johnson 15 per cent of his match fee for a breach of Section 2.4 of the Code during the Jaguars’ second innings, when he was dismissed.
The umpires reported that Johnson stood his ground before leaving the wicket and waved his hands in anger while walking away, when he was adjudged lbw in the 16th over, displaying behaviour that could be deemed as showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse.
Stuart gave Smith a reprimand for the same breach of the Code also during the Jaguars’ second innings, when he was dismissed.
The umpires reported that Smith stood his ground before leaving the wicket and made a questionable remark, when he was adjudged lbw in the 85th over, also displaying behaviour that could be deemed as showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse.
Johnson was 65 not out and shared two successive, significant stands to prop up his side’s batting as the Jaguars closed on 145 for 3 after they had stumbled to 25 for two.
He added 74 for the third wicket with West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer, who got 32, and has added 46 – unbroken – with Christopher Barnwell, not out on 28.
Earlier, Cottoy made 56 and Shillingford hit 53 to give proof that there was a sting in the Volcanoes’ tail after they resumed from their overnight total of 212 for six.
Cottoy and Shillingford became the second and third batsmen to score half-centuries in the Volcanoes’ innings after their captain Kavem Hodge scored 53 on an opening day.
After Cottoy fell to left-arm pacer Raymon Reifer, Shillingford added 57 for the eighth wicket with Shermon Lewis to further frustrate the Jaguars.
But Shillingford was one of three wickets – two to Test left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul – that fell for 23 in 42 balls to bring the innings to a close at 318.
Permaul ended with 4-59 from 33.5 overs and West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo finished with 3-73 from 20 overs for the Jaguars.
A number of regional cricketers who have played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are also set to provide exciting cricket for the cricket-loving nation.
The Hurricanes have picked Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons, former West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell as well as West Indies U19 2020 World Cup 2020 players Kevlon Anderson and Ashmead Nedd.
Meanwhile, rookie fast bowler Nial Smith, West Indies opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, West Indies ‘B’ captain Anthony Bramble as well as all-rounders Rayad Emrit, Raymon Reifer and current Jaguars captain Leon Johnson will take the field for the Renegades.
The match is set to begin at 6:00 pm.
At 2 p.m., national champions Regal All-Stars will take on their arch-rivals Ariel Speed Boat in a softball match.
Teams: Hetmyer Hurricanes; Shimron Hetmyer (captain), Trevon Griffith, Lendl Simmons, Raymond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory, Christopher Barnwell, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed, Ashmead Nedd, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Qumar Torrington, Richie Looknauth, Vishal Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Technical Director), Steven Jacobs (Coach), Akshaya Persaud (Manager) and Neil Barry Jr. (Physiotherapist).
Rutherford Renegades; Sherfane Rutherford (captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Leon Johnson, Raymon Reifer, Tevin Imlach, Kevin Sinclair, Rayad Emrit, Quintin Sampson, Joshua Jones, Ramaal Lewis, Keon Joseph, Ricardo Adams, Esuan Crandon (Technical Director), Veerasammy Permaul (Coach), Devendra Bishoo (Manager) and Ernest Campo Gonzalez (Physiotherapist).
Guyana’s Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport in collaboration with the Guyana Cricket Board organised the event.
The ebullient Johnson had the honor of raising the Headley-Weekes Trophy, capping off the final day of his professional career on Saturday the Guyana National Stadium. This came moments after his team performed a miracle with the ball to bowl out Leeward Islands Hurricanes on an eventful final morning. This kept them at the top of the table in the West Indies Championship.
Chasing 143 to win, the Hurricanes started the day on 81-1, and at 91-1, they looked set for a comfortable victory. However, off-spinner Kevin Sinclair with an incredible spell of bowling removed key Leewards batsmen and caused a collapse.
Johnson was overcome with emotion shortly after his team achieved the remarkable comeback and he received the Headley-Weekes trophy from Enoch Lewis, Cricket West Indies Director. He was full of praise for his team.
“This was a great performance … a great team performance and I’m massively proud of everyone who contributed towards us winning. We worked hard before the season, and we worked hard throughout this season. We were really tested in this final match, and we responded to the challenge with a magnificent win,” Johnson said.
“One of the great things about the season was the progress made by the young players in the team. As various time they stood up with major performances and that was great to see. We made progress. Also, tribute to the senior players who also led from the front, offered invaluable advice and made my job as captain easier on and off the field.
“Thanks to the fans and all those persons who backed us from start to finish. As a proud Guyanese I retire from the game lifting this prestigious trophy and also happy that I can bring smiles to the faces of the supporters.”
The Jaguars, thanks to 189 from skipper Leon Johnson, and 107 from Christopher Barnwell had made light work of the Volcanoes’ 318 all-out in the first innings, scoring 426.
That 318 was made on the back of half-centuries from Kaveem Hodge, 53, Keron Cottoy, 56, and Shane Shillingford, 53.
Devendra Bishoo, 4-73, and Veerasammy Permaul, 4-59, were the best of the Jaguars bowling before their batsmen found it easy going to score 426.
Batting a second time, the Volcanoes made it to 46-1 at the close of play on the third day.
Devon Smith, 16, and Hodge, 17, are the not-out batsmen with Cato the only man back in the pavilion, falling leg-before off the bowling of Raymon Reifer.
