Guyana faces Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday in the Caribbean Premier League semifinals. The match begins at 7:50 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream HERE.
Trinidad & Tobago started the tournament by dropping its first three matches. The squad bounced back to win its next three straight matches, earning the fourth spot in the semifinals. Trinidad & Tobago skipper Dwayne Bravo praised his team for showing mettle and overcoming its rocky start, ESPNCricInfo.com reports.
"We've got our batters to make runs but it's the coaches who really helped us keep our heads up," Bravo told ESPN. "Batsmen like Adrian (Barath), Ross (Taylor) and (Kevin) O'Brien are leading the way and making it easier for us out there. We've got more disciplined and are playing good, all-around cricket.
Despite Guyana's additions of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lasith Malinga, Trinidad & Tobago is confident it can prevail in the semifinal bout.
"They have brought in some good players and Malinga is danger," Bravo said. "He showed this is in the T20 World Cup. Dilshan is also a very big player but T&T have picked up momentum and we're looking to carry this into the semis. I know we can deal with these new threats."
Trinidad & Tobago isn't comprised of the same squad that recently dominated the Twenty-20s, although the team's three-game winning streak makes it unwise to underestimate them.
Although Guyana brought in Dilshan and Malinga, the team is still without starters such as Martin Guptill (hand injury) and Mohammad Hafeez (commitment to Pakistan).
"We've topped the group stage and yes, it's hard to replace players like Hafeez, who added so much of his experience as an international captain, and also Guptill, who has been tremendous with the bat," Guyana skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan told ESPN. "But players like Simmons and Narine know our opponents well. They know the pitch, and how to win regional matches. They can help ease the load off the new guys (Malinga and Dilshan), who literally are just joining us."
