It doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to grudge matches.
And so much is at stake too.
Barbados and Combined Campuses Colleges (CCC) have equally shared the spoils in four contests between the two sides at regional first-class level ahead of their seventh-round WICB four-day match starting today at the 3Ws Oval that will decide Barbados’ further participation in the tournament.
A host of outcomes will give Barbados a chance of moving into the last four but their safest option is to beat CCC and hope that Windward Islands are unable to beat Leeward Islands at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia.
As Barbados went through their final preparation at the match venue yesterday, coach Vasbert Drakes said the rivalry between them and a squad that includes seven Barbadians made the match even more special.
“It’s the rivalry of the season. Both sides are going to try to make sure that they get in their best performances against each other,” Drakes told WEEKENDSPORT.
“The guys have a lot of confidence when they play against them. Likewise, the CCC guys believe they are going to come out victorious.
“It is a matter of who is going to hold their nerve, who is going to play the better cricket on the day and who will take their chances. Everybody will be motivated.”
CCC beat Barbados in the first first-class clash between the two in 2008 and the two encounters in 2009 produced a win for each team, while Barbados won the 2010 fixture.
Barbados have conceded first innings points in each of their six matches this season but a come-from-behind win against Leewards in the last match has kept them in contention for a semi-final berth.
They are in sixth place on 27 points, two fewer than the Windwards, while the CCC are in joint second on 45 points and already assured of a semi-final spot.
“We are going to try and build on the momentum going forward. We have done our assessment on CCC. They are playing good cricket. We are not going to take them lightly,” Drakes said.
“We’ve got to win the game. We have about five guys who are averaging over 40. People might complain that we have not scored quickly but in the last two games we have made an effort to set some targets.”
While looking at increasing the tempo, Drakes will also be wary of a pitch he considers to be a little dry. It, however, isn’t a surface that surprises him.
“CCC’s spinners have been their most effective bowlers this season. If I was in their position, I would encourage the groundsman to prepare a pitch that would assist their bowlers” Drakes said.
“We have to work hard, bowl decent lines and take our chances.”
CCC have won three matches this season – the most by any team.
Off-spinner Ryan Austin is the season’s leading wicket-taker with 28 scalps.
Barbados have named an unchanged 13-man squad that travelled to Antigua, but it won’t be a surprise if Roston Chase, who played two matches earlier in the season, replaces Shamarh Brooks in the starting line-up.
