Scorpions face tough task - Tale of two tapes as Jamaicans face Red Force in Super50 semi-finals
Published:Wednesday | February 24, 2021 | 12:13 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
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The first semi-final in the 2021 Regional Super50 Cup gets under way today at 12:30 p.m., with the Jamaica Scorpions taking on arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Both teams have had contrasting runs...
The first semi-final in the 2021 Regional Super50 Cup gets under way today at 12:30 p.m., with the Jamaica Scorpions taking on arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Both teams have had contrasting runs to the final four, with the Scorpions scrapping through their final two primarily games to get into the semis, while their opponents, the Red Force, have been near perfect in their unbeaten run to the final-four stage.
The Scorpions have been banking on a couple of players in their victory charge towards the back end of the tournament, while the Red Force have gotten contributions from all 15 squad members on their way to their unbeaten 5-0 record.
PROVEN WORTH
Andre McCarthy has once again proven his worth in the limited-overs format, leading the way with both the bat and the ball for the Scorpions, with 156 runs in five innings and eight wickets to back up his outstanding performance so far.
The Scorpions top-order batting, which at some point included Aldane Thomas, Romaine Morris, Paul Palmer Jnr, Brandon King and Javelle Glenn, has been woeful, and the Jamaicans will be keeping their fingers crossed and hoping that returning West Indies players John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner and Jermaine Blackwood receive their final negative COVID-19 test, and can join the team.
With that said, captain Rovman Powell is hoping that whoever gets the nod can finally come up trumps in today’s crucial do-or-die clash.
“So far, our key players haven’t come to the party. We sit time and time again and talk about our key players and match winners coming to the party. If we are going to beat Trinidad, those key players have to step up their game,” said Powell.
The Red Force, on the other hand, don’t have the same batting woes as the Scorpions, as they have the tournament’s two leading scorers in their line-up, in middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed and opener Evin Lewis.
Both have scored over 600 runs between them in a powerful, well-stacked Red Force line-up, which also possesses a potent bowling unit led by spinners Akeal Hosein, Imran Khan and fast bowler Anderson Phillip.
For captain Kieron Pollard, the game plan is simple, and that is to continue in the same vein, which has seen them go unbeaten in five outings.
“The message is simple. Go out and continue playing the good cricket we have been playing. For us, it’s about playing consistent cricket and not letting complacency creep in,” said Pollard.