Guyana, T&T clash for WICB President's Cup

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

In a battle of the heavyweights, defending champions and team of the moment Trinidad & Tobago put their title on the line against hosts Guyana in the final of the WICB President's Cup today at the Guyana National Stadium.

Guyana reached the final following a six-wicket victory over the Combined Campuses & Colleges on Tuesday night at the same venue, a day after T&T prevailed over arch-rivals Barbados by two wickets.

This is 13th appearance in the final for both sides and likewise they are eyeing their 10th titles.

A riveting contest is expected as Guyana aim to stop a well-oiled T&T side which two weeks ago reached the final of the Champions League Twenty20 competition in India.

Favourites

While the Daren Ganga-led T&T should start as favourites, the Guyanese conditions favour both teams.

Both attacks rely heavily on the slower bowlers and both sides possess batsmen who play spin well and it is difficult to pick a winner if both sides play to their full potential.

Guyana, who won the last of their nine titles four years ago, when they beat Barbados at Bourda, have a very powerful batting line-up. The first five positions in their batting order are occupied by players with international experience behind them. But they would hope that left-handed opener Sewnarine Chattergoon shows a return to form to give them a solid start.

Proven performers

Travis Dowlin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chandepaul and Narsingh Deonarine have all been proven performers at this level and so T&T's bowlers will have to hit their straps.

The Calypso Warriors have plenty of depth in their batting with openers Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons to be followed by Darren Bravo, his brother Dwayne, Ganga and his brother Sherwin, Keiron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin.

Their bowling also has an edge with Ravi Rampaul the spearhead supported by Dwayne Bravo, the medium-paced bowling of Simmons and Pollard, as well as the leg-spin of Samuel Badree, Dave Mohamed and Sherwin Ganga.