Former national youth player Joshua Jones is aiming to make his mark on the second annual Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast after a successful outing with the ball in 2023.
Playing for runners-up V-Net Vipers in the inaugural tournament, the Guyana Defence Force fast bowler copped eight wickets, the joint-most with Shamar Joseph, who subsequently went on to play Test cricket.
Notably, Jones also captured a five-wicket haul against Village Rams last year.
“I will be play for Titans in this year T10 tournament. In the last tournament I achieve the most wickets and I plan to continue from where I left off last year,” Jones told News Room Sport days before the start of the 2024 tournament.
Over the last few months Jones has been intensifying his fitness regimen, all with the aim of getting in peak condition for the highly anticipated 32-team showpiece.
“We are in off season right now and my fitness coming around. I’m putting in the hard work because I want to achieve something big in my cricket career so my fitness coming around very sharp.”
The 24-year-old Jones, who has represented Guyana in hardball cricket for two years at the Under-17 level and another two years at Under-19, is excited to welcome the start of the T10 Blast, which gets underway this weekend with Round-of-32 matches.
“Last year was exciting and this year will be no different. I’m looking forward to making an impact and helping my team to go all the way and lift the title,” Jones asserted.
The second installment of the pulsating tournament bowls off on August 3 at the Police Sports Club, Lusignan Community Centre Ground, and Queen’s College Ground, where the best 32 Tapeball teams in Guyana will be on show in a straight knock-out contest.
Other match days will be the Round of 16 on August 4 at the Police Sports Club and Lusignan, while the quarter-finals return to the Enmore Community Centre Ground on August 11.
The competition promises to be fierce, and a larger prize pool will entice the 32 participating teams. The champions will receive G$1.5 million, while the runners-up will receive G$500,000.
Matches on August 3: MS-13 All-Stars v Team Corruption – QC Pitch 1 at 09:30h; Upsetters v GPL Inc – QC Pitch three at 09:30h; Montra Jaguars v Falcons XI – PSC at 09:30h; Street Ballerz v Village Rams – Lusignan at 09:30h; EC Express v Mahdia – Lusignan at 11:30h; Soesdyke XI v Airport XI – QC pitch one at 11:30h; Renegades Cricket Club v Tarmac Titans – PSC at 11:30h; Eccles All-Stars v Eastsyde – QC pitch three at 11:30h; Titans All-Stars v Stripling Warriors – PSC at 13:30h; PREMIER Insurance v Min. Housing – QC pitch one at 13:30h; Moruca Super Giants v Lil Rams – QC pitch three at 13:30h; The Guards v Mahaica Super Strikers – 13:30h at Lusignan; Green Scorpions v Avinash All-Stars – QC pitch one at 15:30h; Brooklyn Youth Strikers v Cotton Tree Die Hard – PSC at 15:30h; Diamond Gunners v TG Titans – Lusignan at 15:30h; The United Crew v Bartica Bulls – QC pitch three at 15:30h.
The competition promises to be fierce, and a larger prize pool will entice the 32 participating teams. The champions will receive G$1.5 million, while the runners-up will receive G$500,000.
The losing semi-finalists each get G$250,000.
Players will vie for the titles of Most Runs, Most Wickets, and Player of the Final. Each winner will receive a Smart TV and a $75,000 cash prize, all compliments of Regal Stationery.
Assuria Insurance is not holding back either, offering a motorbike and $85,000 to the Most Valuable Player.
The Kares One Guyana T10 Blast enjoys the support of Kares Engineering, Banks DIH Limited, Star Rentals, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Montra Restaurant and Lounge, SuperBet, Demerara Mutual, ETS, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Jacobs’ Jewellery, First Change Builders Inc, KFC Guyana, Building Expo 2024, Giftland OfficeMax, Sankar’s Auto Works, ENet, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., Trophy Stall, ANSA McAL Distribution, Camille’s Academy, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, General Marine, Samaroo Investments, and Coel’s Boutique.
