Match Preview – 3rd Match VPL 4: Botanical Gardens Rangers vs La Soufriere Hikers

Last year’s champion is up against last year’s bottom ranked team. However, based on showings from the first day of this edition, those ranking doesn’t seem to matter. The Rangers have a lot of experience in their ranks and Hikers is always going to be a major threat to any team that they come up against. This may well be one of the show down of the tournament.

In The Spotlight

Andre Fletcher, the spiceman, is already a crowd favourite. The ultimate test for the Rangers will be if they can put up a solid total if the spiceman does not contribute. They have quality in Salvan Browne and Wayne Harper but the likes of Keron Cottoy and Kenneth Dember have proven to be as destructive for Rangers as their specialist batsmen have been.

Hikers is a very spin reliant team when it comes to their bowling. They however, were taken to the cleaners in the rain affected match on day 1. It’s also noticeable that the current pitches are not offering as much turn as they did in the past. This seems to be the time when their spinners will be most tested. They don’t seem to have much to worry about with the batting as Gidron Pope, their newest addition, seems to be in good nick. Add the likes of Maloney, Douglas, Hodge and Lewis and it’s one less headache for the Hikers.

Form Guide

Botanical Gardens Rangers: W L L
La Soufriere Hikers: L W W

Weather

The weather is set to be mostly sunny with little chance of rain.

Pitch Conditions

The pitch looks to be in excellent shape for batting.

Probable XI

Botanical Gardens Rangers: Kesrick Williams, Andre Fletcher, Salvan Browne, Wayne Harper, Kenneth Dember, Keron Cottoy, Kimali Williams, Winston Samuel, Ethan Gibson, Razine Browne, Larry Edwards

La Soufriere Hikers: Desron maloney, Dillon Douglas, Gidron Pope, Othneil Lewis, Kavem Hodge, Jeremy Layne, Nigel Small, O’Jay Matthews, Jeheil Walters, Romario Bibby, Andrew Thomas