No `draw' contest

BERBICE - In years gone by, visiting cricket teams would come to Guyana contented with going back home with just first innings points in the bag. Not this Barbados side, however.

The Carib Beer Series front-runners are in hot pursuit of a third win in four matches against opponents they have not beaten in this country for several seasons.

Guyana's unsettled weather patterns and benign pitches decidedly in favour of batsmen have been the major reasons why outright results in regional first-class matches have been few and far between in the past two decades.

Recent history, too, doesn't offer much encouragement for a victory by either side when Barbados meet Guyana over the next four days at the Albion Community Development Centre.

In the three matches here last season, there were four team totals of more than 400, six individual centuries, including two double-hundreds, and two scores in the 90s.

Captain Courtney Browne is, however, not contented with the approach of battling over a first-innings affair.

"I'm looking for a victory. I don't like to play `draw' cricket, as I call it," Browne told WEEKENDSPORT after a practice session at the Rose Hall ground yesterday.

"We're really looking forward to this game. This will be one of the most important games."

It is the first time since 1997 that Barbados and Guyana are meeting in a first-class match on the South American mainland.

Back then, the two teams played to an exciting draw at Bourda in the capital city of Georgetown. Now 80 miles away, they have to contend with a pitch that batsmen relish.

It is therefore prompting Browne to try something new.

"We have to think about a few things that could combat flat pitches," the Barbados captain said. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Hopefully they will work during the game.

"The first important thing is getting a total on the cards so that your bowlers will get a chance to bowl at them. In terms of bowling patterns, it is a matter of how you bowl your bowlers. There maybe a few changes from the norm."

Guyana, with 24 points, are in third place and trail Barbados by six points.

Even without the likes of Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, they have been very competitive this season.

"They seem to be playing pretty well. They know us well and will come out fighting a little harder," Browne said. "They have people who have been around for a while and you can never underestimate Guyana in Guyana."

Barbados fast bowler Tino Best sustained a blow to his right shoulder from a lifting delivery from Antonio Thomas in the nets yesterday. It created a bit of swelling, but Best is likely to be good enough to take his place in what is expected to be the same 11 that drew with Jamaica last weekend.

Guyana are without former West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart, who has made himself unavailable for the rest of the season because of study commitments and personal reasons.

Any cricket match in this country, whether it be Test, One-Day International, first-class or Sunday afternoon match, always seems to be competing with the weather. This is no different.

There has been no significant rain in this area for the last few days, although it became overcast yesterday evening in the town of New Amsterdam, which is about 20 minutes drive from Albion.

A forecast on the CNN web site said there was likely to be thunder showers in Georgetown today with partly cloudy conditions expected over the weekend.