The Guyana Amazon Warriors will take the field tonight full of confidence of lifting the coveted Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) trophy when they take on inaugural champions the Jamaica Tallawahs at Warner Park from 19:00 hrs.
The Warriors have been bridesmaid on two previous occasions including the first edition in 2013 when they missed out to the Tallawahs.
However, this year is the year of the Warriors and according to Captain Rayad Emrit “the guys have the desire to go all out for this one.” He was replying what is different this year for the Warriors.
The Warriors Captain spoke to Guyana Times Sport at the team’s final practice session ahead of their championship clash and noted that the “guys want to go out there and fight and do anything to get the trophy, every practice is intense and as a Captain I can’t ask for anything more.”
The Trinidadian Emrit who took over from Martin Guptil has won his last three games in charge including the last match against the Tallawahs said that all 16 players are fit and eager to go which is not necessarily the case with most teams coming to the back end of a long tournament.
Captain Emrit stressed that bowling is the strength of his team and despite many say that the Amazon Warriors are top heavy with the bat the Captain said the team comprises of big temperament batsmen who have had starts and will come to the party tonight if needs be.
The all-rounder made special mention of openers Nic Maddinson and Dwayne Smith who he said will lay the foundation for the innings and hand it over to the bowlers to finish off.
The best two teams from the league are contesting the final and Emrit said that they (Amazon Warriors) have specific plan for of the Tallawahs’ players.
The Tallawahs have been belting big scores with Chris Gayle (108) and Andre Russell scoring hundreds so far this season and Chadwick Walton 97, narrowly missing out but Emrit said the bowlers have plans and it;s a matter of sticking o the plans and executing them in the championship match.
Emrit who is having his first season of CPL and was quick to point out that the fans’ support was very crucial in the team getting this far including the two matches in Florida where he felt as if they were at home (in the Caribbean).
Emrit is stressing for the fans to continue with the strong support tonight and that “the team will do its best to bring back the trophy to Guyana.”
(John Ramsingh at Warner Park, Basseterre)
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