Guyana Amazon Warriors will face Barbados Tridents today in another crucial match which they must win in an effort to push for a spot in the finals. The last time these two sides met at the National Stadium, Providence, Warriors had no issues of disposing Tridents lead by a spectacular knock from Chadwick Walton.
Now they face the 2014 champions at the Kensington Oval, with both sides battling to stay alive. However, the match is the first of four home matches for the Tridents, which some pundits believe gives them the advantage to pip Warriors in the heated race for the top four.
Qualification scenarios
Warriors are currently fourth on the points table with 6 points while Tridents are in fifth with four points. It means that the Warriors need to win their two remaining matches and hope Tridents lose at least two to secure the fourth position without any need for net-run rate issues.
Tridents lose all four home matches
While it may seem a highly unlikely scenario, should Tridents fail to register a win at home, Warriors can even lose another match and still secure the fourth position.
Tridents only lose one home match
This is one scenario that the Warriors will not favour that well since their chances would now rest on having a better net-run rate.
Three teams finish on ten points
Should the Jamaica Tallawahs lose their remaining two matches against the Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Warriors win their two and Tridents win three, it will be a three-way tie.
Given that the Warriors net-run rate would only get better should they win, they would catapult into third position. However, it still means they have to play two more matches to reach the finals since only the top two teams get a chance to go straight to the finals. Never has a team finished in fourth and went unto win the tournament.
Batsmen need to fire
Apart from Walton (278 runs) and Jason Mohammed (233 runs), the Warriors’ batting has looked suspect, subjecting themselves to defeat after being fully in the driver’s seat.
The next best run-score was Martin Guptill (142) but he has returned home to his family and replaced by Luke Ronchi. It leaves Gajanand Singh (105) as the only other player to pass the 100-run mark.
Sohail Tanveer has been giving a role, opening the batting which has corresponded with some quick runs being scored.
Lower-order hitting would be a needed which makes the contribution of Keemo Paul and Roshon Primus vital.
Meanwhile, the bowling looks quite compact led by crafty leg-spinner Rashid Khan, Ryad Emrit and invaluable support from Tanveer.
They will need to bring their A-game since Tridents have recruited Eion Morgan for their final set of matches, which adds great strength to an already firing batting order led by talismanic captain Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith and Kane Williamson.
Traditionally being a bouncy and fast pitch at Kensington Oval, captain Emrit was adamant that he would play “horses for causes” which would hint a debut for the pacy Keon Joseph.
First ball is expected to be delivered at 18:00 hrs and from some reports a packed house is expected.
Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Rayad Emrit (captain), Sohail Tanveer, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshon Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Steven Katwaroo, Keemo Paul, Muhammad Ali Khan, Luke Ronchi.
Barbados Tridents Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Kane Williamson, Christopher Barnwell, Eion Morgan, Imran Khan, Damion Jacobs, Dwayne Smith, Nicholas Pooran, Wayne Parnell, Ravi Rampaul, Akeal Hosein, Ryan Wiggins, Tino Best, Tion Webster.
