Shield heat is on

THE battle for places in the quarter-finals of the Sagicor General Shield competition will be truly and well on when the curtain comes down today on the preliminary round of matches, starting at 11 a.m.The tournament has been severely affected by rain with as many as 45 matches abandoned without a ball being bowled. Two teams – Benfica and last year’s losing finalists Isolation Cavaliers – are yet to play a game and both are in Zone A.There are some interesting matches slated for today.Zone B leaders Windward come up against Yorkshire at Friendship. By virtue of gaining 14 points after gaining three wins, Windward are the first confirmed quarter-finalists.   Yorkshire are on ten points with one victory. Even if they win today and finish on 14 points, they cannot qualify. The relevant rule, Rule No. 5 (d), states: “In the zonal competition where two or more teams have an equal number of points the higher-placed team shall be determined by (i ) (a) most wins in the zonal competition, and if still equal (b) net run rate.”Joint leaders in Zone C, Barbados Community College (BCC) and Maxwell, clash at the Eyrie.   In Zone F it’s also a straight race between Wotton on 14 points and Lodge on ten. Wotton are at home to Melrose, and Lodge oppose Bayville at Bayville.  In Zone E, neighbours MTW, on ten points, and Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, eight points, meet at the Polytechnic ground.Points standingsZone A: BCL 10, Isolation Cavaliers 8, Benfica 8, HMPO 8 (3), Diamondshire 6, Lords 4 (3), Foundation 4. N.B. HMPO and Lords still have to play each other.Zone B: Windward 14, Yorkshire 10, Belleplaine 8, Brereton 8, King’s Park 6, BWU 2.Zone C: BCC 12, Maxwell 12, Sheffield 10, BRC 8, QEH 4, YMCA 4.Zone D: Market Hill 10, *Coleridge & Parry 10, Ipswich 6, Wibix 4, Central 2.Zone E: MTW 10, SJPP 8, Combermere 6, *BDF 4, Bristol 4.Zone F: Wotton 14, Lodge 10, Melrose 8, Bayville 8, Malvern 6, United 2.Zone G: Queen’s College 12, North Stars 10, Inch Marlow 10, Standard 6, Conrad Hunte 4, Lester Vaughan 2.NB. North Stars and Lester Vaughan have to replay their third-round match.Zone H: *BDFSP 10, SJC 8, BFS 6, Boscobelle 4, Foundation.*Indicates teams who have completed their games