Local cricket fans won’t only be focusing their attention on the television screens today to see the ICC World Twenty20 final between West Indies and host country Sri Lanka.
The two Sagicor General Super Cup semi-finals are slated to start today at 9:30 as well with defending champions Republic Bank St Catherine putting their title on the line when they travel to Trents, St James, to face CGI Maple.
Elite Division champions Sagicor UWI, who won the title in 2007, will continue their bid for a double crown when they host 2009 kings TeleBarbados Carlton at the 3Ws Oval in the other semi-final.
Maple have the psychological advantage of inflicting St Catherine’s only loss in this year’s competition in a zonal match at Bayfield.
Whereas Maple’s batsmen, with the exception of a resurgent Renaldo Parris and captain Pedro Agard, to a lesser extent, have not been consistently getting among the runs, it appears whatever total they make, their impressive bowling attack can defend.
Off-spinners Don O’Neal, Ramon Greaves and Shane Ramsay have not been easy to score freely against, while West Indies pacer Kemar Roach and swing-bowling all-rounder Khalid Springer, two proven wicket-takers, bring variety to the attack.
The left-arm spin of all-rounder Jamar Griffith, who is also a big-hitting left-handed batsman, should not be underestimated, while Agard, who is expected to perform wicket-keeping duties again, has more bowling options with the off-spin of Parris and batsman Jed Yearwood. Opener Shane Parris can also deliver left-arm spin.
But Maple will be hoping Roach makes some early inroads in the St Catherine batting line-up with former Barbados fast bowler Dayne Maynard, now an opening bat.
Former Barbados batsman Ahmed Proverbs, who was St Catherine’s top batsman in the Elite Division this season, is likely to make a return to the knockout side. But St Catherine’s batting will revolve around all-rounder Kenroy Williams, who has been enjoying a fantastic tournament with bat and ball, and former YMPC?right-hander Shamar Cooke.
Captain Derick Bishop, one of the most economical bowlers in domestic cricket with his left-arm spin, could make a big impact for the visitors as well as all-rounder Joel Leacock, who returned from a maiden league contract in Ireland to knock over ICBL Empire in the quarter-finals with a cheap five-wicket haul.  Â
UWI have a strong batting line-up, headed by Barbados players Jonathan Carter and Omar Phillips, with wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton, coach/player Floyd Reifer and new acquisition Anthony Alleyne, the West Indies Under-19 left-hander. Kyle Corbin and Romel Currency are also capable of getting runs.
Carlton’s bowling is steady with left-arm spinner Dane Currency and experienced off-spinner Marlon Graham, at the forefront.
West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Kyle Mayers, a deceptive right-arm fast medium bowler and attacking left-handed batsman, could also play a key role with bat and ball for Carlton.
UWI will be hoping young pacer Marques Clarke can replicate his quarter-final new ball burst against LIME by knocking over some of Carlton’s top-order batsmen such as the attacking duo of Martin Nurse and Kirk Gibson.
Solid right-hander Vonrick Nurse will be looking to anchor the Carlton batting, while wicketkeeper Carlo Morris, as he showed with a match-winning unbeaten half-century in the quarter-final versus Spartan, is always a threat at this level.
Morris’ battle with UWI’s spinners Ryan Austin and Akeem Dewar could be crucial in determining the outcome.
