Match Preview: 2nd Match – La Soufriere Hikers vs Botanical Gardens Rangers

Match 2 of the historic VPL T10 competition, will see the clashing of the ‘nature’ teams, the La Soufriere Hikers vs Botanical Garden Rangers. The Rangers are being led by ace West Indian seamer in T20 cricket, Kesrick Williams while the Hikers will be led by upcoming Windward Islands cricketer Desron Maloney.

In The Spotlight

For the Rangers, Kesrick Williams will be in the spotlight, being the world’s leading T20 international seamer over the last few years in terms of wickets taken. For the batting, the Rangers will be banking on the experience of the local Master Blaster, Hyron Shallow, who averages a staggering 60 in local T20 cricket. Their batting is also bolstered by the experience of Romel Currency, brother of West Indian batsman Sunil Ambris. The Rangers has a lot of seam bowling options in their arsenal to call upon, which maybe useful on a wicket that has on a decent amount of grass covering on the eve of the match.

Despite the stardom and experience of the Botanical Gardens Rangers team, the La Soufriere Hikers will be an imposing opposition as they have arguably the most destructive batting line-up of the tournament. The Hikers will banking a lot on their power-packed batting line-up, as they are a bit thin in the bowling department.

Weather

The weather is expected to be clear and sunny throughout the day, with very little chance of rain.

Pitch Conditions

With the tournament having 10 days of consecutive cricket, an extra covering of grass was left on the wicket to preserve the pitch throughout the tournament. Fast bowlers will be looking on with some excitement. Conditions may force some teams to alter any plans of playing a spin heavy bowling attack.

Probable XI

La Soufriere Hikers: Desron Maloney, Salvan Browne, Dillon Douglas, Dean Browne, Rawdon Bentick, Cosmus Hackshaw, Jeremy Haywood, Othneil Lewis, Rayan Williams, Kimson Dalzell, Kenson Dalzell

Botanical Garden Rangers: Kesrick Williams, Hyron Shallow, Romel Currency, Atticus Browne, Joey Welcome, Oziko Williams, Kenneth Dember, Kevin Abraham, Nigel Small, Romario Bibby, Nigel Small

Stats & Trivia

Kimson Dalzell & Kenson Dalzell are identical twins. Salvan Browne & Dean Browne are brothers, who also have three other brothers playing with the Grenadines Divers.