By Akeem Greene in Trinidad
Who would have thought after 42 matches in the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup, Leeward Islands Hurricanes and West Indies Emerging Players would be the two left standing?
It is a remarkable achievement for both on all facets. It shows that there is no more a ‘regional bully’ since anyone can truly be beaten and for Emerging Players, especially, it is a great statement since it is a group who would have been overlooked for national duty.
With no history between the two sides, one has to go on form to decipher who would most likely lift the trophy at Queen’s Park Oval Sunday evening.
Hurricanes finished Group A in second, losing only twice, both to Barbados Pride, the side which Emerging Players booted in the first semi-final. Just maybe something extra for Hurricanes to consider.
What Hurricanes have that Emerging Players don’t is the experience of winning a title and maybe it is more than coincidence that current captain Jahmar Hamilton played in 2010 when they shared the title with Barbados in a tie at Sabina Park. It was the last of the seven titles won, three of which are shared.
Hamilton was the ‘hammer man’ Friday evening with blistering 78* from 34 balls, which blew title favourites Trinidad and Tobago Red Force out of the tournament.
Himself and Kieran Powell, who leads the tournament’s run charts with 511 at an average of 63.87, are expected to be the pillars in the batting.
Powell made 48 in the semi-final, and until he was dismissed, brought a calming influence on the Hurricanes camp given the control he had on the innings.
Pacer Sheeno Berridge has 21 wickets, and while he is not express pace, he finds ways of breaking crucial stands. He further has an economy rate of 4.82.
Fortune got the Emerging Players into the knockouts after a slumber towards the end to their group matches and Guyana Jaguars losing to United States of America.
Trinidadian Joshua DaSilva and Barbadian Justin Greaves are the key figures for Emerging Players with bat. DaSilva’s calming presence at the top sees him average 50.00, while Greaves has been some vital knocks to score 287 runs at an average of 35.87.
The strength of the Emerging Players lies in their bowling. Both pacers and spinners have been outstanding.
Keon Harding has constantly found the early breakthrough and no surprise he has 17 wickets, while spinners Ashmead Nedd and Kevin Sinclair have ten and nine scalps respectively, and have done the damage at economy rates of 2.82 and 3.08.
Dew is always a factor at the Oval and the uncertainty over the weather could encourage teams to chase. The struggle of Emerging Players to chase 120 in the first semi-final might prompt them to depend on their stronger suit and defend a total.
Given the stunning comeback against Red Force, Hurricanes will be buoyed by their chances of overcoming more scoreboard pressure.
Match time is 13:30h.
West Indies Emerging Players: Yannic Cariah (Captain), Kimani Melius (Vice-captain), Camarie Boyce, Roland Cato, Joshua Da Silva, Dominic Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Leonardo Julian, Jermaine Levy, Ashmead Nedd, Gidron Pope, Jayden Seales and Kevin Sinclair.
Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Jahmar Hamilton (Captain), Montcin Hodge, Keacy Carty and Yannick Leonard, Devon Thomas, Sheeno Berridge, Jeremiah Louis, Akeem Saunders and Terrance Warde, Kezron Archibald, Kieran Powell, Jason Campbell, Amir Jangoo, Quinton Boatswain.
