Caribbean Sports Network

DEFENDING champions PowerGen can qualify for the knock-out stages today of the Carib Twenty20 tournament with a win against Rousillac United.

PowerGen is unbeaten thus far in Group A and will be favourites to beat Rousillac on their home ground. The Premiership Division club has a wealth of Twenty20 experience with Sherwin Ganga, Samuel Badree and Dave Mohammed playing important roles for the national team at the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 tournament. The mix of experience and several talented young players in the PowerGen team will give them the advantage. The other match in Group A is between Valiants and Woodland Sports Club. Rahamut’s Evergreen is on a bye.

W Connection Wanderers are expected to beat Calcutta Sports in their Group B match at Calcutta. Aggressive opening batsman, William Perkins and pacer Navin Stewart will be key to a Wanderers victory. However, the Premiership Division team has several talented young players such as Javed Ramdhanie and Omesh Ramoutar who are expected to make an impact. TTEC will be depending on former West Indies Under-19 vice-captain, Jason Mohammed to see them past a tricky Caldrac Sports team at Point Lisas.

Alescon Comets will have a tough match when they play Moosai Sports in the feature clash in Group C at Hooneymoon Park, Tunapuna.

All-rounder, Imran Khan is coming off a century in the previous match against the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and is expected to be a key figure in the match along with batsman Kirk Edwards. All-rounders Javon Searles and Rayad Emrit are in good form and will pose a major threat. However, Moosai Sports will he hoping that former West Indies leg-spinner, Mahendra Nagamootoo and off-spinner Marlon Barath will be able to subdue the attacking Comets batsmen. UTT will be hoping to rebound against Explorers in the other match at Omera. Clico Preysal can put themselves in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages when they face Canaan and Bon Accord in Tobago. Veteran Shazan Babwah will be instrumental for Preysal with his aggressive batting along with Kjorn Ottley. However, Preysal will once again be without pacer Shannon Gabriel who is in Barbados in a West Indies training camp. Curepe Sports will be aiming for their first win in the tournament when they play Universal Haulers Esmeralda.

First Citizens Clarke Road will have a tricky match against F&E Diamond at Kennedy Park, Diamond. Clarke Road have a talented team which includes allrounders Mahadeo Moonasar, Sanjiv Gooljar and Deighton Butler. They are expected to lead the charge for Clarke Road against a formidable Diamond unit. The other match in the group is between Victoria United and Renown Sports.

The other matches are: Group F — Santa Cruz Sports vs Queen’s Park; Barataria Sports Club vs Aranjuez Sports Club.

Group G — Queen’s Park II vs Ceramic Merry Boys; Cane Farm Sports vs Defence Force.

Group H — SIS Central Sports Invaders vs Munroe Road: Bamboo Sports vs Endeavour Sports.