NORTH SOUND – Barbados Pride were put in to bat, after Windward Islands Volcanoes won the toss and chose to field in their West Indies Super50 Cup match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground (VRCG) in Antigua.
Pride made two changes to their line-up from the previous match with wicketkeeper/batsman Shai Hope, left-handed batsman Nicholas Kirton and pacer Akeem Jordan replacing Zachary McCaskie, Tevyn Walcott and Dominic Drakes.
The Barbados Cricket Association belatedly announced on Wednesday that Hope and his elder brother Kyle, flew to Antigua and replaced Drakes and fellow injured pacer Keon Harding in the 15-member Pride squad for their remaining two matches.
Harding has been side-lined with a hip injury and Drakes has a knee injury.
The Hope brothers were withdrawn from the squad a few days before the players departed for the tournament after they returned positive tests for the COVID-19 virus during required screening before travel. They are now fully recovered.
Volcanoes made one change with Kimani Melius replacing fellow opener Desron Maloney.
Pride lost their previous three matches in the tournament, beginning with a 56-run defeat under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method against Guyana Jaguars in a rain-marred contest two Mondays ago at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG).
This was followed by a four-wicket loss against home team Leeward Islands Hurricanes two days later at the CCG before stumbling to a three-wicket defeat against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force this past Monday at the VRCG.
Volcanoes, whose line-up features Barbadian all-rounder Kevin Stoute, beat Hurricanes by 31 runs in the tournament opener two Sundays ago at the CCG, lost to Red Force by four wickets last Friday at the same venue before rebounding to beat Jamaica Scorpions by 92 runs three days ago at the CCG.
Pride are currently fifth in the standings with no points and Volcanoes are third with eight points.
The Barbados side need to win this match and their final contest against Jamaica Scorpions on Saturday at the CCG to reach the semi-finals and a chance to play for the title.
Teams:
Pride: Jason Holder (captain), Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Justin Greaves, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Nicholas Kirton, Ashley Nurse, Akeem Jordan, Chemar Holder, Joshua Bishop.
Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris (captain), Andre Fletcher, Kimani Melius, Kevin Stoute, Emmanuel Stewart (wicketkeeper), Keron Cottoy, Roland Cato, Ryan John, Preston McSween, Larry Edward, Obed McCoy.
Umpires: Zahid Bassarath, Patrick Gustard.
Match Referee: Reon King.
Reserve Umpire: Jacquline Williams. (AR)
