ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):
The four captains involved in today's two quarter-final clashes in the Stanford 20/20 Tournament were all in a positive mood, despite the wash-out yesterday.
Heavy showers caused the abandonment of the Trinidad and Tobago/Barbados fixture after just 2.4 overs while the Jamaica/Guyana clash scheduled for 7 p.m. was also abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) will now meet in the opener at 3:00 p.m. today with Jamaica and Guyana facing off at 7:00 p.m.
"We have the ability, we have the will, and we certainly want to win," said Jamaica skipper and left-handed stroke-maker Wavell Hinds.
"In this tournament we have been focusing on what we have to do to get over every hurdle. We know the 'score' and we know how to take care of business."
His opposite number, Ramnaresh Sarwan, said Guyana was also confident of getting past Jamaica.
"Everyone is comfortable. We are confident we can pull off this one and march forward," Sarwan said. "Just look at our recent record in regional cricket. We all know this is Twenty20 and anything is possible. We expect Jamaica to start as favourites, but we are confident and ready."
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago started yesterday but the rain curtailed the event with T&T reaching 17 for two before the rains came.
Barbados captain Ian Bradshaw said his side understood the importance of the match.
"I stressed the absolute importance that Barbadians place on games against Trinidad and Tobago and this will be in that same high level," captain Ian Bradshaw said.
"The players know this and will be motivated and ready."
With the two nations traditional arch rivals, T&T skipper Daren Ganga said his team was in the right frame of mind.
"In this version of the game you need to be thinking all the time and that is one of the positives coming out of the tournament," Ganga said. "We remain confident and we know it's never easy against Barbados. We are looking to get well ahead and stay ahead."
Despite the launch of Antigua Carnival this afternoon, the matches are still expected to attract a large audience, as there are significant numbers of Jamaicans and Guyanese living in Antigua.
