JAMAICA’S leg-break bowler Odean Brown believes the team has a good chance of making it to the final of the 2013 Caribbean Twenty20 (CT20) tournament, despite the batsmen putting in below-par displays so far.

“We have a good chance, and once we go out and do the right things I have no doubts we will finish in the top three and have a chance (to play in the final),” Brown told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Based on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) tournament rules, the top team after the preliminary phase will automatically move into the final, while the second and third place teams will play-off for a spot in the championship event.

Reigning champions Trinidad & Tobago currently lead the standings with 13 points from four matches, four ahead of last season’s finalists, Jamaica.

Windward Islands, Barbados and Guyana follow with eight points each, while the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) have four, and the hapless Leeward Islands team are at the base without a point.

Meanwhile, the Jamaicans have thus far failed to post any scores of 150 or beyond — a total widely considered to be the par in the T20 format and were even dismissed for an abysmal 72 to Barbados.

The 30-year-old spinner, who has been an integral part of a bowling attack that kept a tight leash on opponents in the generally bowler-friendly conditions of Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad & Tobago, admitted that the batting needs to improve ahead of today’s start of the second phase of the competition in St Lucia.

“Well I think we could have done better. The bowling unit has been getting the job done, but we need to start batting better. Still, the wickets in Trinidad were hard to bat on and not ideal for quick scoring,” he said, while arguing that T&T made some big totals largely due to their familiarity with home conditions.

Going into this afternoon’s crucial encounter against Guyana at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, Brown expressed optimism that his team will come good and added that he is expecting pitches that are more favourable to batsmen.

“I have great expectations going up against Guyana. The vibe in the team is good and we are looking to play good cricket tomorrow (today).

“In the past when we have been to St Lucia we usually get good batting pitches, so I hope it stays like that,” he said.

Brown, who has taken three wickets in four matches at a tight economy rate of 4.20 runsper-over and an average of 11.66, said he is pleased with his personal showing so far.

“So far I’m happy with my performance, and the ball is coming out good for me. I hope that form continues,” he concluded.

Left-arm swing bowler Krishmar Santokie is Jamaica’s leading bowler so far, capturing eight wickets at an economical 5.26 run rate and an average of 9.87.