Blackwood returns for Seals, Warriors Super League clash

Early leaders Southern Seals will attempt to make it two wins in a row when they take on Western Warriors at the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium in Round Two of the inaugural two-day franchise-based Jamaica Cricket Association Super League, starting today.

The contest, one of three matches in the round, will see Southern Seals looking to build on their first-innings honours success over Central Titans in last weekend's opening set of fixtures.

The Western Warriors, in the meantime, will be seeking to better their no-result draw affair against Eastern Tigers.

"This weekend, we should put out a much stronger team with the arrival of several players, and as such, we are looking to maintain our position at the top of the league,'' stated Seals coach Bertram Barnes.

"We are expecting to have Jermaine Blackwood back from West Indies duties, as well as fast bowler Jason Dawes, and former national Under-19 representative Tristan Coleman,'' he emphasised.

"Coupled with the form so far of national players, all-rounder Fabian Allen, spinner Jamie Merchant, and batsman Zeniffe Fowler, this should make us very formidable,'' he added.

And formidable they may very well be, given that the Warriors will be without their two front-line bowlers in sidelined West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell and West Indies 'A' representative Reynard Leveridge.

Both have been called up by the West Indies 'A' selectors for a training camp ahead of the Sri Lanka 'A' upcoming tour of the Caribbean.

"We will be without two of our main bowlers in Cottrell and Leveridge for the game, however, we are still optimistic of attaining a positive result,'' expressed Warriors manager, Dwayne Clayton.

"The team still has left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli, who is one of the leading bowlers in the country, as well as we will be welcoming the return of Oral Rankine from playing overseas.

Solid batting

"Our batting is also solid, with Assad Fudadin of Guyana expected to play his first match, and Rasheed Outar, Jermaine Harrison, and Sean Bennett and captain Myron Wilson leading our batting.''

In other matches, pre-tournament favourites Eastern Tigers with West Indies 'A' fast bowling recruit Oshane Thomas, Brandon King, Derval Green, Garth Garvey, and Paul Harrison will do battle with the Chadwick Walton-captained Combined Universities and Colleges at Melbourne Oval.

Meanwhile, over at Chedwin Park, Central Titans, led by Danza Hyatt and featuring pacer Krishmar Santokie, Trevon Griffith and Stephen Taylor will face off against Northern Panthers.