ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson believes despite their heavy loss to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the Regional Super50 Cup final, the tournament was still a “win” for his side.
Jaguars were hoping to break a 16-year drought in the 50 overs competition but dropped from 152 runs in last Saturday’s final at Coolidge Cricket Ground, after failing to chase a huge target of 363 runs.
Pointing to the batting group’s performances and the outstanding efforts of left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie who ended up as the tournament’s leading wicket-keeper with 17 scalps, Johnson said the Jaguars had a reason to hold their heads high.
“I believe [the tournament] is a success. Obviously we would have loved to go one better and win the tournament but reaching the finals is an achievement in itself, ”said the long-standing skipper.
“We had three centuries in the tournament, Motie finished with the most wickets and (Kevin) Sinclair supported his very good season [in 2019] and getting a call to the West Indies team so that’s not the end of the world.
“We would have loved to have come out on the winning side but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Johnson was one of the three Jaguars batters to reach triple figures with the others being former rounder Chris Barnwell and West Indies batting star Shimron Hetmyer.
Meanwhile, Sinclair, 21, who starred with 13 wickets in the last Super50 Cup in 2019 for the West Indies New Players, claimed just five wickets but his economy rate of 3.48 was excellent and earned him a place in India the West. alongside Sri Lanka in the white-ball series starting later this week. Johnson also praised Motie’s performance and said he expects the 25-year-old to play international cricket soon.
“[He’s] definitely [one for the future]. He has also represented West Indies at youth and A-team level. (Veerasammy) Permaul was missing for the majority of the tournament and he stepped up and did well, ”Johnson noted.
Despite winning the toss and choosing to bow first on a good track in Saturday’s final, Johnson said he didn’t regret the decision-making because Jaguars simply didn’t step up their game.
“I fully support the decision to bow first. They give up [362]. I think the wicket is still good but I think the cost of executing our shots early in the power play cost us, ”explained Johnson.
“You first saw how easy it was when Raymond (Reifer) and Gudakesh were also batting.”
Jaguars fell to 55 for six in their chase before Reifer hit 97 unbeaten to provide a lifeguard action, which included a ninth run ninth wicket stand with Motie who made 28.