Smith gives youth a chance
Clay Smith, the Flatts Victoria coach, has pinned his hopes for success in the Eastern Counties final with champions St David’s at Lord’s on a youthful bowling attack that he is confident will rise to the big occasion.
The challengers have included three spinners and four seam bowlers in an attack that Smith believes can best exploit the pitch conditions on offer.
“Looking at St David’s wicket over the last two counties, it’s not taken too much pace so we are backing our youngsters to do what they have done for us all season, and that’s bowl well and take wickets,” Smith said.
Colts Logan Jones and Nekoda Bascome will share the spin bowling duties with Regino Smith, while Bermuda all-rounder Kamau Leverock will spearhead a four-pronged seam attack that also boasts experienced player Nelson Bascome Jr.
Wicketkeeper Amori Ebbin is the last of three colts named in the team that includes one recall in St George’s Cup Match player Temiko Wilson.
Flatts will be led by captain Coefield Robinson with Reggie Baker to serve as the team’s vice-captain.
“It’s a well-balanced team,” Smith added.
“It has a mixture of youth and experience and I’m looking for the youth to basically come and bring another level of energy.
“We’ve worked extremely hard over the last week or two and all I can ask of the players is to leave it on the field.
“We are good enough and if we put in a good performance then anything is possible.”
St David’s have managed to retain their title so far in this year’s series having drawn against Bailey’s Bay and Cleveland County in the previous two rounds.
“Both of the last two counties matches have given us a lot to go off of,” Smith added.
“You have to be really technically smart about how you approach the game, and that’s what we have been discussing a lot over the last two or three days.
“You can have all the tactics you want, but then it’s about executing the game plan. That’s where games are won or lost.
“We have done our homework and now it’s just a matter of putting our practice into executing the game plan.”
The champions also selected their squad last night with colt Seth Campbell the only change.
Campbell comes in for Rudell Pitcher who shared in a vital partnership with his cousin OJ Pitcher, which guided St David’s to safety after a late batting collapse left the match hanging in the balance.
St David’s will again be led by captain Justin Pitcher with his cousin Lionel Cann to serve as vice-captain. Iyuan Smith, who was a colt in the first round, will again tend to wicketkeeping duties behind the stumps. Tomorrow’s match starts at 10am.