Match Preview: Botanical Gardens Rangers vs Grenadines Divers – 18th Match VPL 4
Both teams are still in the hunt for a place in the qualifers so this is an important game for both sides. While Rangers may look like the favourites, don’t underestimate the Divers. They will be desperate at this stage to improve on their performances.
In The Spotlight
Rangers have been found wanting in their past few games, being held down by spin in general. They also struggled tremendously in the backend of their chase, due to being very conservative against spin at the top. Divers have two quality spinners in Asif Hooper and Geron Wyllie and you can expect that their batting line up would be put to the test. This match may well be an indication of what the odds are of the Rangers being able to lift the trophy for the first time. Their bowling hasn’t been spectacular nor has it been poor so it’s not necessarily a major area of concern for them. They would be more focused on ensuring that they bat well and put up imposing totals or to look comfortable chasing.
Divers are a hot and cold team, an almost carbon copy of the Strikers at times. Divers are struggling for good starts and it maybe time to revert to their best opening combination of the past, Shem Browne and Asif Hooper. They have given Divers some amazing starts but they were usually let down by the middle order. Roland Cato did well in VPL 2.0 when he occupied the number 3 spot for a few games and performed brilliantly. In Wesrick Strough, they have an amazing bowler for the backend of the match. Geron Wyllie have proven before that he can be a trump bowler for the Divers. Inconsistency has been a plague to the Divers and unless they can start stringing together group performances, they’ll continue to find themselves losing out in key positions of the match.
Form Guide
Botanical Gardens Rangers: L W L
Grenadines Divers: L W L
Weather
The weather forecast is looking fine with very little chance of rain playing any part in the match.
Pitch Conditions
The strip that will be used is generally really good for batting but the other strips have started to wear down so there is a possibly that this pitch may have slowed down a bit but it shouldn’t be as bad as the strips used in the past 4 days.
Probable XI
Botanical Gardens Rangers: Kesrick Williams, Andre Fletcher, Salvan Browne, Wayne Harper, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Razine Browne, Larry Edwards, Kimali Williams, Winston Samuel, Ethan Gibson
Grenadines Divers: Asif Hooper, Hiram Shallow, Shem Browne, Roland Cato, Imran Joseph, Kevin Abraham, Wesrick Strough, Geron Wyllie, Vedol Edwards, Denson Hoyte, Bracie Browne