Miller says Jamaica ready to battle confident Windwards
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Jamaican spinner Nikita Miller says he is anticipating a strong challenge from the Windward Islands when the two teams meet in the second semi-final match of the regional Super 50 tournament tomorrow.
Jamaica face Windward Islands at Kensington Oval in Barbados following the first semi-final match between Trinidad and Tobago and Combined Campuses and Colleges today at the same venue.
“The Windwards have a strong team, they play very hard and will be a challenge. I like a challenge. I’m ready,” declared Miller, Jamaica’s trump card with the ball this year, who will be looking to add to the bag of wickets he has taken this season.
“When you look at how we have been playing, I guess people would say I’m a key player for Jamaica.”
The wily left-arm spinner has been a handful for regional batsmen with 12 wickets at 14 runs apiece in the Regional Super 50 tournament.
He has been even more lethal in the Regional Four-Day tournament with an astonishing 38 wickets in five matches at an average of 7.36 runs per wicket.
“I’m looking forward to this weekend. I love playing at Kensington — it is one of my favourite grounds, one where I have had a lot of success,” said Miller.
“The atmosphere is always great. Sometimes, even when the ground is not full, it still has an awesome feeling. There is also a rich history and the conditions always make for a good contest.”
Jamaica were champions in 2011 when they lifted the Clive Lloyd Trophy, and this year they finished second in the preliminaries behind Trinidad & Tobago.
In their last preliminary round match against Guyana, Miller was the batting hero with a last-ball six to win the match.
“We’re not a ‘one-man team’. We have a very good bowling attack and in the spin department we have Odean Brown, who on his day is dangerous as well,” Miller told WICB Media.
“What has been very pleasing this year is that two of the youngest players in the team, Jermaine Blackwood and Andre McCarthy, have been scoring some very good runs, so this is great for the Jamaica team.”
The final of the Super 50 will be played on Sunday and, like the semi-finals, will be broadcast live on ESPN.