georgetown, (cmc)
A thrilling battle is anticipated when regional powerhouses Guyana and Jamaica face off in the quarterfinals of the Stanford 20/20 Tournament on Friday evening at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua.
With the US$1 million winner's prize serving as a tremendous motivator, the rivalry between the two teams is expected to be intense and should result in a pulsating affair.
MUST-WIN SITUATION
The Guyana Cricket Board has spared no effort in getting the Guyanese team ready for their must-win situation on Friday and has organised practice games against the Guyana Under-19 team and a Rest XI. The first was played yesterday with the second set for today.
The matches will be hosted at the Banks DIH ground, Guyana's only facility which can accommodate night cricket.
Led by West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, Guyana are one of the Stanford 20/20 pre-tournament favourites and local fans will be afforded the rare opportunity of seeing back-to-back night matches in Guyana involving the country's top players.
Among those selected to represent the Rest XI are West Indies opener Ryan Ramdass who is recuperating from a shoulder surgery, West Indies under-19 skipper Leon Johnson and first-class players Derwin Christian, Rayon Thomas and Trevon Garraway.
Alvin Johnson, manager of the national Under-19 team which face the Leeward Islands in the first round of the TCL regional under-19 competition in Guyana from August 8-10, said his players were looking forward to the opportunity of playing under lights.
WEATHER AFFECTING PREPARATIONS
"Although a 20/20 match should make little impact on the team's technical preparation, with the current adverse weather prevailing, any form of cricket on turf is welcomed," Johnson stressed.
Although Guyana participated in the first regional first-class match in 1865, the country is still without an indoor practice facility for their cricketers.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Under-19 team will play a three-day practice game at Bourda from Tuesday to Thursday with another practice match scheduled for next week.
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