Walsh optimistic about Antigua beating CVI - AntiguaSun

[Anguillan newsboy]

Walsh optimistic about Antigua beating CVI
Thursday October 04 2007

by Elwin Francis

Head Coach Hayden “Sharlo” Walsh is confident of Antigua and Barbuda beating the Combined Virgin Islands (CVI) in their last round Leeward Islands Cricket ***ociation’s (LICA) three-day match and final preliminary round encounter in the NAGICO one-day competition this weekend.
Antigua and Barbuda will meet the CVI in the three-day affair, starting today at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground (SVRCG).
The Antiguans will enter the game, knowing they are still in with a chance of recapturing the three-day title.
They are currently in second place with 42 points, three behind leaders Anguilla who will also be hosting Montserrat in their final encounter.

The Antiguans will go into the game knowing a victory over the CVI will keep alive their hopes of reclaiming the title they relinquished to St. Kitts last year.
A victory for Anguilla over Montserrat, however, will give the Anguillans their first ever three-day title in the history of the LICA tournament.
During the past two weeks, the Leeward Islands tournament has been affected by rain, which helped St. Kitts to salvage a draw with Antigua and Barbuda at Warner Park last Saturday.
Walsh said the result against St. Kitts has affected his team’s chances of reclaiming the three-day title, but is hoping the weather holds fair for this weekend’s encounters against the CVI.
“I am absolutely confident that barring rain Antigua will win those matches this weekend against the Combined Virgin Islands. I still think it is unfortunate we didn’t get the chance to complete a win against St. Kitts because I know we would have won that game if it wasn’t greatly affected by the rain,” Walsh said.
“That result in St. Kitts did not put us in a better position to win the competition, but if we get play here in Antigua this week, I am greatly confident that we will win the games.”
On the other hand, Antigua and Barbuda are still on course to retain the NAGICO one-day championship.
Antigua and Barbuda will enter the final preliminary round in the one-day competition as joint leaders with St. Kitts at the top of the standings. With St. Kitts finishing their quota of preliminary matches, a victory over the CVI on Sunday will ensure the defending champions finished as the top seed amongst the four sides advancing to the semi-finals.
“I really want us to be on top of the one-day standings so that we can be the number one seed in the semi-finals and I have no doubt that will happen as long as we are able to play on Sunday,” Walsh said.
Nevis and St. Maarten, the other two sides who are in contention for a place in the NAGICO one-day semi-finals, will clash at Grove Park in Nevis in their last preliminary match on Sunday.
The two sides will also be meeting at Grove Park today in their final encounter in the LICA three-day tournament.