No place for complacency – skipper Leon Johnson

CAPTAIN of the Guyana Jaguars Leon Johnson, says that his side has no place for complacency as they push to secure the country’s first regional 4-day title in approximately 17 years.

“We’ve talked about it after the game and we’ve discussed about not getting complacent. We’ve beaten Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago convincingly in the earlier rounds and we still need to go and play good cricket to win this tournament; so obviously, we have no place for complacency” Johnson told Chronicle Sport upon the team’s arrival at the Ogle International Airport from Barbados yesterday.
Set an improbable 333 for victory, the Guyana Jaguars went about their task with admirable professionalism and game awareness, scoring the highest total in the match and the highest fourth innings total by a Regional team at Kensington Oval for victory.
Narsingh Deonarine top-scored with 90, Shivnarine Chanderpaul crafted 64, Rajendra Chandrika laid the platform with 60, and Raymon Reifer and Anthony Bramble saw the Guyana Jaguars home with an unbeaten 41 and 27 respectively.
In a release, the Cricket Guy Inc (CGI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) congratulated the Jaguars for the victory, stating that the win “displayed the sort of character that our team is capable of since they were playing catch up with Barbados throughout the match until the fourth day.
“Rain almost robbed us of completing this revenge victory against our arch rivals, Barbados, but the Jaguars held their nerves to score at nearly three and a half runs per over in this innings to record the highest run rate for the match.”
Meanwhile, according to the team’s captain, after falling short in the Regional 50-overs championship, losing to Trinidad and Tobago in the final, winning the 4-Day should be priority and must be dedicated to the people who stuck with them through the years, especially their 17-year drought at the game’s longest format.
“It’s very important not as a cricket team, but as a country because everyone is behind us. The guys fell short in the 50-over. I mean I wasn’t there but we didn’t turn up on the day and we lost but now we have a chance to correct that. We haven’t done it (win the tournament) in 17 years and now we have a chance to do it, so we must stay focused and win this for the people of Guyana,” Johnson said.
The Guyana Jaguars have extended their lead in the tournament to 107 points with six victories; a clear 25 points ahead of second-placed Barbados on 82 points.
Starting on March 6, the Guyana Jaguars will host Jamaica Franchise at the Guyana National Stadium, followed by a clash against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force one week later at the same venue.
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