Some fascinating cricket is being played in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League Twenty20. Guyana Amazon Warriors seem to be the best team on paper with such players as Captain Ramneresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Martin Guptil, Sunil Narine, Mohammed Hafeez, James Franklin, Narsingh Deonarine, Christopher Barnwell, Denesh Ramdin, Veer Sammy Permaul and Krishma Santokie. The St. Lucia Zouks is comprised of some well-known cricketers as well, including West Indies Test and Twenty20 Captain Darren Sammy, Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-haq, Tino Best, Devon Smith, Shane Shillingford and the aggressive opening batsman Andre Fletcher.
ST. LUCIA ZOUKS DEFEAT WARRIORS BY 5 WICKETS
Guyana Amazon Warriors batted first and scored 126 runs for 6 wickets at the Guyana National Stadium. Christopher Barnwell scored 29 not out, Lendl Simmons, 38 and Denesh Ramdin 13 not out.
Shane Shillingford bowled very well, picking up 3 wickets for 23 runs from 4 overs for the St. Lucia Zouks.
TEAM WORK
Misbah-ul-haq – 49 not out, captain Darren Sammy – 21 not out, Devon Smith – 24, and Andre Fletcher – 23; all contributed significantly to create a victory. Misbah-ul-haq batted intelligently and took his chances at anything that seemed loose.
A GLIMPSE OF DEVON SMITH
West Indies batsman Devon Smith showed some remarkable stroke-play against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. He slammed three consecutive fours off New Zealand paceman James Franklin in superb fashion, before he was unfortunately run-out for 24 with the score at 88 for 5. Darren Sammy joined Misbah-ul-haq and these two players finished the game with a partnership of 41 runs at 129 for 5 in the last over. Misbah-ul-haq scored 49 not-out and Sammy, 21 not out. This is a big win for the St. Lucia Zouks and this defeat for the Guyana Amazon Warriors may cause their head coach Roger Harper and captain Ramneresh Sarwan to modify some of their batting and bowling strategies.
NOT TOO MUCH TO LEARN FROM T20 TOURNAMENT
The full capabilities of a batsman cannot be exhibited while playing a Twenty20 cricket match. The time is too short to analyze a players’ technical correctness and patience at the wicket. When under-15 and under-19 players get carried away with Twenty20 cricket and its terrific rhythm, it is difficult for most of these players to adjust to a 50-over One-Day International. It is more difficult for a batsman to adjust from Twenty20 to a 50-over One-Day International game, than the other way around. There is a problem with West Indies players adjusting and these coaches emerging out of the West Indies ought to develop systems to help batsmen perform better in 50 overs. Batsmen have to stay longer at the wicket and accumulate runs.
