By Avenash Ramzan
After rain severely affected their fourth round game in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League Digicel Four-day championship, defending champions Guyana Jaguars have slipped one place down the points table to number two ahead of this weekend’s fifth round match.
Guyana Jaguars started the fourth round with a slight lead over Barbados Pride at the top of the points table. The Jaguars had 33.6 points, while Pride had 33.4.
With their fourth round game at Providence hampered by rain and resulting in a draw, the two teams slipped on position down the table, with Jamaica Scorpions taking over the lead.
Scorpions surged to the summit with a thumping 132-run win over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force with skipper Nikita Miller claiming 12 wickets in the match, including 9-41 in the second innings.
Scorpions, who suffered an opening round loss to the Jaguars, are now on 46.8 points from four games. Jaguars are in second spot on 44 points, while Barbados Pride have 43.2 points.
Leeward Islands Hurricanes, who lost to Windward Islands Volcanoes by 94 runs, slipped to fourth position on 36.6 points, while Volcanoes came off the cellar spot and are now in fifth on 35.2.
Red Force’s heavy defeat to Scorpions means they now occupy sixth position on 32.4 points. With one more round remaining this weekend before the competition heads into the holiday break, it is still too close to call, as not much separates the teams.
Bonus points would be crucial going forward, while the teams would be cognisant of the inclement weather that has affected a vast majority of the games this season.
In round five, Guyana Jaguars will have home advantage against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in a day/night game, while Barbados Pride will be at home against Windward Islands Volcanoes, with both games starting Friday. The other match, a day/night affair between Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Jamaica Scorpions, will start on Thursday.
