The CG Insurance Super50 Cup bowls off on Sunday, February 7 with the Leewards Hurricanes taking on the Windwards Volcanoes at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only 19 matches will be played in the tournament scheduled to conclude on February 27.
According to Cricket West Indies, the health risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption to all domestic cricket since late March 2020, with no competitive cricket allowed regionally except for an abridged version of the Caribbean Premier League which took place last August in Trinidad.
This year’s annual CG Insurance Super50 Cup will provide a platform for the region’s six major cricketing rivals to clash in 19 action-packed 50-over matches starting from Sunday, February 7 when Leeward Islands Hurricanes host the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
The tournament will come to an exciting climax when the new champions are crowned on Saturday, February 27.
The 2019-20 champions, West Indies Emerging Players, are unable to defend their 2019 trophy due to COVID-19 constraints, however, several of those players now feature in the squads of the six competing franchise teams, one of which will emerge as the CG Insurance Super50 Cup champions.
Each team will play each other on a round-robin basis with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals and the opportunity to reach the grand final.
Matches will be played at Antigua’s two international cricket venues - the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS). There will be 13 matches at CCG including the semi-finals and final, and six matches at SVRS.
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard said it was good to have regional cricket back after a one-year break.
"It is very good that cricket is coming back to the Caribbean ... players will get the opportunity to showcase their skills and entertain our fans. It has been a trying 2020 for cricketers and the whole Caribbean, so it is really good that we have the CG Insurance Super50 Cup being played at this time and hopefully it can unearth some new talent,” he said.
CWI has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sport in Antigua & Barbuda to orchestrate logistics and agree the safety and medical protocols for the commencement and duration of the tournament.
All players, support staff, match officials and supporting professionals will be tested with negative COVID-19 results before their arrival into Antigua. Players, support staff and match officials will operate within a bio-secure bubble and will be tested at regular intervals during the tournament with assistance from the local Ministry of Health and CARPHA.
“A huge amount of planning and work has been put in to ensure that the Super50 Cup can return and CWI would like to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, title partners CG Insurance, our host broadcasters ESPN Caribbean and our colleagues at the Leeward Islands Cricket Board and the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association, for all of their support in helping to stage the tournament during these unprecedented times,” said CWI CEO Johnny Grave.
Meanwhile, Naz Farrow, CEO of CG Insurance said the company was happy to be able to continue supporting regional cricket.
“CG Insurance is proud to sponsor the CWI Super50 Cup and thrilled to be a part of the first tournament of 2021. We are happy to support the many players and organizers involved and recognize the major efforts that have gone into the preparation of this event during these unique times. By partnering with the CWI series, we have the opportunity to support our various Caribbean nations and to showcase that we are stronger together,” he said.
The CG Insurance Super50 Cup is the marquee 50-over event in the West Indies featuring the six long-standing territorial rivals– Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, and the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
This is the second edition of the Super50 Cup featuring CG Insurance as title sponsors, and the event promises to stage big performances and memorable moments as the teams go in pursuit of winning the coveted CG Insurance Super50 Cup and being awarded the Sir Clive Lloyd Trophy.
Below is the match schedule for the CG Insurance Super50 Cup
Sun, Feb 7 - Leewards Hurricanes v Windwards Volcanoes (day match) - CCG
Mon, Feb 8 - Guyana Jaguars v Barbados Pride - CCG
Wed, Feb 10 - Leewards Hurricanes v Barbados Pride - CCG
Thur, Feb 11 - Jamaica Scorpions v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - SVRS
Fri, Feb 12 - Leewards Hurricanes v Guyana Jaguars - CCG
Sat, Feb 13 - Windwards Volcanoes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - CCG
Sun, Feb 14 - Jamaica Scorpions v Guyana Jaguars - CCG
Mon, Feb 15 - Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride - SVRS
Tue, Feb 16 - Windwards Volcanoes v Jamaica Scorpions - CCG
Wed, Feb 17 - Leewards Hurricanes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - CCG
Thu, Feb 18 - Windwards Volcanoes v Barbados Pride - SVRS
Fri, Feb 19 - Leewards Hurricanes v Jamaica Scorpions - SVRS
Sat, Feb 20 - Guyana Jaguars v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - CCG
Sun, Feb 21 - Barbados Pride v Jamaica Scorpions - CCG
Mon, Feb 22 – Windwards Volcanoes v Guyana Jaguars - SVRS
Wed, Feb 24 - SEMI-FINAL 1 - CCG
Thur, Feb 25 - SEMI-FINAL 2 - CCG
Fri, Feb 26 - Fifth placed v Sixth placed -SVRS
Sat, Feb 27 – FINAL - CCG
Mahmudul Hasan Joy scores unbeaten 114 as Bangladesh 'A' and West Indies 'A' play to a draw at Syhlet
Mahmudul Hasan Joy scored the only century by any batsman for the series and it could not have been more timely as Bangladesh ‘A’ resisted West Indies ‘A’ to earn a draw in the third and final unofficial Test at Syhlet International Stadium on Friday.
Chasing an unlikely victory target of 461 and resuming from their overnight score of 47-0, Bangladesh batted through the final day to close on 306-4.
Hasan Joy, who was on 28 overnight shared in an opening stand of 93 with Sakib Hasan. The partnership was broken when Hasan, 14 overnight, was dismissed by Kevin Sinclair for 43. Sinclair dismissed Monimul Haque for just five shortly thereafter but Hasan Joy continued to resist, sharing in a third-wicket partnership of 53 with Saif Hasan, who was eventually dismissed by Akeem Jordan for 38.
Yasir Ali joined Hasan Joy at the crease and together they made the West Indies ‘A’ bowlers toil for just over 29 overs during which they added 117 runs for the fourth-wicket and effectively ensured a draw. Sinclair picked up his third wicket of the innings when he dismissed Ali for 67.
Hasan Joy continued on to 114 not out as he and Shahadat Hossain, who was unbeaten on 20 at the end, took the score past 300 and take the hosts to safety.
Sinclair ended with figures of 3-94. Jordan took 1-37 in the stalemate.
Scores: West Indies 'A' 445 and 220-5 declared; Bangladesh 'A' 205 and 306-4. Match drawn.
Pollard, Narine, Russell, Pooran among veterans retained by Trinbago Knight Riders ahead of 2023 CPL season
Veteran players Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine are among six players retained by the four-time CPL champions, Trinbago Knight Riders ahead of the 2023 season scheduled to begin in August.
TKR have also confirmed the retention of Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein and Jayden Seales.
The Knight Riders have also secured the services of Dwayne Bravo who will be returning to the franchise from the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. They will also have Mark Deyal as part of their setup in 2023 with the batter joining the Knight Riders from the Saint Lucia Kings.
The decision to retain the aforementioned players is good news for Head Coach Phil Simmons.
“We are very happy to be able to retain most of the Caribbean players from last year’s TKR squad. The experience of Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Nicholas Pooran coupled with Dwayne Bravo’s return gives our squad a very strong core,” the former West Indies head coach declared.
“In youngsters like Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, and Mark Deyal, we have some of the best young talent from Trinidad representing TKR.
“We’re looking forward to the remaining international signings, and I am excited by the player draft coming up soon to complete the roster and put together a strong squad for CPL 2023.”
The overseas players and draft picks will be announced during the Republic Bank CPL draft show which will be broadcast at the end of June.
The tournament gets underway on 16 August with the final taking place on 24 September. There will be matches in Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago.
Dawid Malan leads Yorkshire to Roses win as Jos Buttler fails to fire Lancashire
Dawid Malan starred while Jos Buttler endured frustration as Yorkshire claimed a 15-run victory over Lancashire in the Vitality Blast Roses clash at Headingley.
After Malan hit a superb 83 off 50 balls in the Vikings’ 195 for six, England colleague Buttler made just one in his first Lancashire appearance of the summer, caught at mid-off from the off-spin of Dom Bess seven balls into the Lightning’s pursuit.
They subsequently finished on 180 for eight, with Ben Mike and Dawid Wiese having each claimed two for 31.
Also in the North Group, a career-best unbeaten 109 by Wayne Madsen set up Derbyshire for a first win of the campaign at Leicestershire, who ran them close but fell three runs short of their target.
Madsen’s brilliant 61-ball innings, which contained 12 fours and four sixes, helped the Falcons post 189 for five after being put in, Tom Wood making 37 from 24 balls and Brooke Guest 25 not out from 20.
The Foxes, who have lost all of their opening four matches, put up a decent fight, with Colin Ackermann (59 not out) and Rehan Ahmed (28 not out) scoring 58 off the last 31 balls after Rishi Patel’s 44 – but it was not quite enough as they closed on 187 for five.
In the South Group, Essex thrashed Sussex by 25 runs at Hove with captain Simon Harmer taking a hat-trick.
Harmer struck with his first three balls after coming on in the third over as Essex easily defended a target of 164. After losing Ravi Bopara in the first over of their reply, the hosts then saw Harmer dismiss Tom Alsop, Shadab Khan and Michael Burgess to leave them at 15 for four with their chase effectively over before it had begun.
They ended up dismissed for 138 with eight balls unused, Harmer finishing with figures of four for 28.
Essex’s earlier 163 for seven featured 55 from Feroze Khushi, while Shadab took three wickets.
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