 Coming off this Tuesday edition of the Sports Bank Zone with cricket, the final four for the CG United Super 50 Cup have been decided with the close of the preliminary stage at the weekend. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Lewand Island's Hurricanes, Barbados Pride and Guyana Harpy Eagles have all booked their spots and will buy for places in the final. The Red Force beat Barbados Pride in Sunday's final preliminary game to finish top of the group with 49 points and causing the pride to slip to third place on 37 Lewand Islands Hurricanes finished second with 44 points while the Harpy Eagles were fourth with 34 points. So the semifinal matchups will see TNT Red Force against the Guyana Harpy Eagles on Wednesday while on Thursday Barbados Pride battled the Hurricanes. Both matches will be at the Bryan Lara Cricket Academy. Nikhil Utamchandani who has been on commentary during the Super 50 Cup joins us to discuss the competition. Nikhil, it's a pleasure to have you back on the Sports Bank Zone. I gather you've been having quite a lot of fun in Trinidad and Tobago, both on and off the field or in and out of the commentary box. Yeah, mainly in the commentary box, you know. Well, let's leave it there, shall we? Let's leave it there and talk about some cricket, Nikhil, because it seems as if you have been stumped. So let's give you another chance. This is now the second innings. Nikhil, assess the preliminary stage of this Super 50 Cup for us, shall you? Yeah, I think it's been really interesting with the innovation of the bonus point system this season to address specific targets and areas where West Indies cricket can improve. I do think I credit West Indies cricket and Miles Vaskham and his team for the innovation Darren Stamme and those who have been behind it because I think it was no point just coming into the tournament, just doing the same things both on over again. We're not in the World Cup. We won't be in the next champion's trophy. And it's about now building towards that 2027 World Cup in four years time. It was a really great opportunity to have a look at the two youngest teams who for me were massively impressive in the West Indies Academy, who I thought were in the best four teams in this tournament and deserves to be in the semi-final and the combined campuses and colleges who fought well and have shown glimpses of some really exciting talent to come in the future. So all in all, I think the group stages have been really good. And I think it's hard to predict who will come out of these two semi-finals and go on to win the tournament because obviously Trinidad start as the favourite, but we know the nature of not only this tournament, but the way that the 50 over game can go as we saw today with Glenn Maxwell, anything is possible. Yeah, talk to me about the bonus point system and how you think it would have impacted or affected the batting performances in this tournament and whether you have seen any improvements on the part of the batsmen. Yeah, definitely, Ricardo. I think I have seen improvements. I've looked closely in a couple of areas where West Indies cricket has fallen behind in one of the internationals. And that's obviously in the middle overs. It's no secret that we've struggled. You look at the numbers, since the 2019 World Cup, the West Indies have been the 12th best team in the world in terms of the run rate in that period. And that's below five runs and over. So I looked closely at that phase and it was really refreshing to see the two youngest teams in the tournament be the only teams above five and over, but it just goes to show that while there's still a lot of room for improvement and yes, the Super 50 bowling won't be the same you get at the international level. There is that added impetus in the middle overs. Another area where I think it has benefited our batting is the first 10 overs where last season everyone was struggling to get over five runs for over this year. Five teams have been able to do that in the group stages. So there was definitely that added intent and more, I think, aggressive stroke play, fearless cricket, which is needed in that power play. And it's what the best teams in the world. You look at this World Cup, India, South Africa, they're getting 60 and 70 for one in that first 10 overs. So in those two aspects, especially, I think I've seen the most improvement. Yeah, Nikhil, you know, a concern for I think all lovers of West Indies cricket over time has been the ability of our batsmen to play spin. And when you look at the numbers from this tournament, I'm not sure if it is because of the pitch conditions, but nine of the top 10 wicket takers in this tournament so far are spinners. Is that concerning? I think it is slightly concerning. And obviously the surfaces in Trinidad and Tobago will naturally suit the spinners and they've been very conducive. We've had the opportunity to cover the games as a Brian Larkin Academy, but the games at the UE campus have definitely been very conducive for the spinners. So spin have reached havoc at that ground, especially. But I would say it is an area that still probably requires further improvement and I know coaches and Darren Sammy continues to highlight that as being a major issue. But I definitely think it's good practice for the region that we're on these slower surfaces that are spinning so much. Because as you said, it is a massive area of improvement. And I don't think we fully executed in the way that we ought to if we want to compete with the best teams in the world. And that India series, it was a massive struggle when Jaleja, Kuldit Yadav and others came. And I think England knowing them and knowing what they're going through now in the World Cup, they will come down with a fair complement of spinners as well for that next series in December. So it's going to be up to Shea Hope, Atheneus, Kasey Karate and guys like that to ready with sand that spin. And we'll get to see if it's made a difference this tournament that is in that series in a couple of weeks time. Yes, and sticking with the bowling, Sunil Narain, one of the top wicket takers for the Super 50 sofa alongside Hayden Walls Jr. and of course, Yannick Carrier. I didn't get your take because we didn't chat since about Sunil Narain and the fact that he's made it official that he's stepping down from international cricket and 50 over a comment on, you know, what you saw from him so far up close and of course, him stepping away. Well, I think the world knows that Sunil Narain in whatever cricket it's been so hard over the years to actually score against this man. You look just a couple of days ago in that game against Barbados, I think it was 10 overs for 18 runs and obviously got the wickets as well. The four foot is just amazing how, you know, with all of the advent of technology over the years, you hear teams doing planning and you hear bowlers saying, well, the first season, you know, you get a lot of wickets the next year, it's always harder. Someway, Sunil Narain has been able to fight that and has always been able to just be so deceptive with his bowling at times has been in a much more economical role in the IPLs and in international cricket. But you look at a tournament like the Super 50, where he's right at the top of the list for wickets of all time. He has just been so hard to play, so hard to score against. And I think he's a huge reason why the Trinidad and Tobago Red Forks are still unbeaten this season. So he will be a huge miss. And just to piggyback on what you said about Walsh and Carrier, I think it's really great to see Mariah, the competition for places. Obviously, Carrier is the resident lightspin in the Westinies white ball team. He's been there for the last couple of series, but it's fantastic to see here in Walsh, who I think has been so impressive. I may even give him the edge over Carrier in this tournament. Just the way he's bowled, I think the pace that he's bowled at has been very different to what he's done in the past. I know personally he's put in a lot of work. And I think if we can get those two guys firing, both are very capable with batting hand and in the field. It's only good and great for the future of Westinies cricket. Yeah, I'm also really happy for Hayden Walsh Jr. Because we know how much work he's been putting in. You know, I even had him on in case you missed it. And I was asking him if he was transitioning into golf. But he was like, no, have no fair. He's been doing the work to ensure that, you know, he does what he has to do. A comment though on Darren Bravo, his captaincy and his performance because he's been leading by example. Yeah, I think he's always led admirably well on the field in terms of the decision making. And look, when you have that boarding line up in these conditions, I don't think it's the biggest challenge to lead that team. And you have got to visit Narain. I mean, he said it, Akib O'Sane, who's a Westinies left arm spinner. And then obviously the Westinies talent that he's had in his batting line up. But you can't take anything away from the way he's led with batting hand. That hundred was, again, with a lot on the line against the Barbados pride. They wanted to finish top of the table because you get added incentive this year in terms of monetary. You also get the number one seed. And if rain falls, you go straight on to that final. So there was a lot at stake. And the way he commanded the innings, but also minimized risk until the very last minute. And then just showed in the last three overs how skillful he is at hitting maximums. That to me was a tremendous innings and showed a real character from him knowing the responsibility he has as captain. And the fact that he couldn't really be dismissed in that last 10 overs because they could have ended up instead of posting 290, posting just 250 or 240, which could have easily been chased. So I think, look, he's always shown that he's capable of being consistent with batting hand. But it was his first 118 last innings. And he'll want that he can hope that he can finish the tournament with a couple more centuries, or even if it's one more, to really knock on the door of selection going into the next couple of series in England and Australia. Yes, and Nikhil, I can't understand and I can't figure out why Jamaica has been so poor this season. Seven matches, no wins, seven points. Again, you're close to the action. Maybe you'll have an answer. I wish that we heard from Ricardo first, you know, Mariah, but we will, I'm sure, hear from him. I think it's really interesting and one that we couldn't really figure out, to be honest, because this is defending champions and you look at the personnel. In fact, some would argue they may have even got stronger. Fabian Allen wasn't in the squad last season. He was there this year. But what it did show was the importance of Brandon King, who got over 300 runs last year. And I think papered over a lot of the cracks of that middle order when he got them off to flying starts a season ago. So the biggest concern would be obviously the way that they batted spin in the tournament. I think it was four or five spinners took four and five wicket hauls against them. And obviously it's never going to be easy when you lose wickets in clubsters. Captain Rob Montal was very honest to his credit and said, you know, they have to have a hard look at themselves after this tournament. But even himself, who's the Wessonese vice captain and obviously in a leadership position in the T20 internationals, he implemented how important it is for him to just get back into the runs with the international cricket right around the corner. But obviously the bowling as well, Dennis Boulay and Javor Royal, who took more than 10 wickets last year were instrumental for them. And this season, you know, below five, both of them. So that was big losses as well. But I think the biggest thing to me was the way that they played spin and they just weren't able to do it consistently enough. And that's why they were unable to win a game. Yeah, a good segue. And just referencing the point that Ricardo had made earlier on about the spinners dominating the statistics. A quick comment on the Leeward spinner, Daniel Dorem. He's like 6'6", 6'7". The last left-arm spinner that tall we saw in the Caribbean would have been Suleiman Ben. And we have a proliferation of left-arm spinners at the moment in the Caribbean, Gudekesh Mote, Birisame Primal, Karapir, Akil Hussain and so on. How good is Daniel Dorem and his height and the way he gets the ball to bounce and turn? To be honest, Slancy is very different to Mote and Hussain who have been the two left-arm spinners that have been around the team for the last four or five years. What Dorem does well, as you mentioned, that bounce. And on these surfaces here, there's been variable bounce. So guys like him, Ross and Chase, who's slightly shorter, have extracted a lot of good results, especially at the Brian Larkirk Academy where Dorem got the 7-foot against Jamaica. It's been impressive. However, I think before he's thrown into the deep end and it's not going to be easy either. Because Gudekesh Mote, every season in Listay cricket and international cricket, has shown that he's going to take something to remove him from that leading spinner role in the West Indies team. He did well in the India series. And he bats a bit too. Yeah, he's got a first-class 100 as well. That's right. And he's showed for Guyana in CPL and his tournament that he's capable of powering things in the last 10 or so. So it's not going to be easy for Dorem, but as I said with Kariah and Walsh, competition for places is fantastic. And if you have someone like Dorem, yes, he's done well this one season. But if he can go in the four-day tournament where he was with them the last two years, do well there. Then maybe even in next year's Super 50 or if he gets a CPL call-up. If these guys can consistently put up performances regionally, I think it creates a better environment for West Indies cricket overall, and obviously a lot more for the selectors to pick up. And then you have horses for courses in conditions where you may get more bounce. You can go to someone like Dorem and you can play that complement of maybe two or three spinners depending on conditions or wherever you're touring in the world. So Dorem, I think his story has been inspirational the way he's moved obviously from Samaritan to the Netherlands and now has got that real success. And it'll be exciting to see how he goes not only in these next couple of games if they get to the final, but in the future of his career as well, given the raw materials that he has. Yeah, Nikhil. All right, so in 10 seconds, I hear you're the cricket prediction guru. So give us your finalists, Red Force versus Harpy Eagles and Pride versus Hurricanes. Just reminding the fans and the you guys that I got the CPL one spot on. But anyways, moving on from that, I have the Hurricanes and Red Force. Yes, no Barbados pride. I think Hurricanes without fast bowling duo, the Red Force still undefeated. I think those two meet off in the final and then if anything happens, I think there could be an upset, you know, I think the Hurricanes could just win it all. Wow. You did get the CPL right. It has given you some confidence and you're going all out with the Super 50. I hope you don't end up dismissed. We take a break, but back with more on the Sportsmax Zone.