The absence of players on Barbados and Windward Islands’ duties in the Professional Cricket League and others sidelined with chikungunga could be crucial to the success of some teams in today’s four Sagicor General Super Cup quarter-finals, bowling off at 9 a.m.
New Elite champions ICBL Empire and Sagicor Life UWI are the hardest hit but both teams have plenty of depth and are still favoured to advance to the semi-finals.
Empire, who will oppose defending champions, LIME at Bank Hall, will be without the experienced all-rounder Ryan Hinds and the inform duo of batting all-rounder Roston Chase and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.
LIME will also be without their influential off-spinning all-rounder, Ashley Nurse.
UWI, who are hosting ESAF Pickwick at the 3Ws Oval, will be without Barbados players Jonathan Carter and Carlos Brathwaite; Windwards’ batsman Romel Currency and Jamaica’s opener Shacaya Thomas while Pickwick have suffered a major loss in wicket-keeper/batsman Shai Hope.
Brathwaite Construction/Republic Bank St Catherine, the only unbeaten team in this year’s competition, will host Division One champions Wildey, who have gained promotion back to the Elite division, at Bayfield.
St Catherine won’t have the services of left-handed Barbados opener Omar Phillips and Windwards’ left-arm spinner Alston Bobb but will be hoping that their key all-rounder Kenroy Williams has fully recovered from his recent illness.
In the other match at Trents, CGI Maple, with former Barbados and West Indies swing bowler Corey Collymore in their line-up, will fancy their chances against Division 1 side, Premix and Precast Yorkshire. (EZS)
