Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Tamar Lambert ... in good form going into today's one-day match against Guyana at Alpart. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

BUBBLING WITH confidence following their decisive seven-wicket victory over Guyana in the regional four-day Carib Beer cricket series, Jamaica go hunting again today when they take on the Guyanese in the third round of the KFC one-day tournament at Alpart Sports Club in Nain, St. Elizabeth, starting at 9.30 a.m.

Unlike last year when they finished last in the four-day competition, this year Jamaica, with one first innings loss in a drawn match, one first innings lead in another drawn match and one victory in three matches, are going well in that competition and, unlike the last two times - in 2004 and 2005, when they finished next to the cellar position, they are also going well in the one-day contest.

Increase in confidence

In 2004 and 2005, Jamaica won only a total of only four matches - two each year. This year, however, after two rounds, Jamaica boast two victories, one over the Leeward Islands, one over the Windward Islands, both fairly comfortable, and because of that, because of their easy win over Guyana on Tuesday, they are really confident of victory.

Another thing which makes the hosts confident is the fact that unlike Jamaica's perfect record to date, Guyana, in losing to the Windward Islands and to Trinidad and Tobago, are without a point after a disastrous start.

So confident are Jamaicas that unlike the norm which sees most teams around the world making at least one or two changes from their four-day team to the one-day team, they are entering today's one-day contest with the same team that defeated Guyana in the four-day match.

That means the batting will come from Brenton Parchment and Danza Hyatt, Lorenzo Ingram, captain Wavell Hinds, Tamar Lambert - who scored 51 not out and 48 not out in the two earlier matches, all-rounder David Bernard Jr. and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr. The bowling will come from pacers Jermaine Lawson and Andrew Richardson, medium-pacer Bernard, left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and legspinner Odean Brown, and with support from Hinds and his medium-pace, that also means that Jamaica boast a well balanced team and should win the match for victory number three.

With a batsman like captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, plus others like Azeemul Haniff, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Travis Dowlin in their line-up and with two bowlers like pacers Reon King and Esaun Crandon - the fast bowler who hits the ball hard and far, with one like legspinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and one like the gifted teenaged left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, Guyana parade some good players.

As well as Jamaica have been playing, and as confident as they are or may be, Guyana, as disappointing as they have been, are dangerous and Jamaica would be well advised not to take them lightly - especially remembering that while Jamaica finished fifth out of the six teams in the previous two years of the tournament, Guyana, the runners-up in 2004, were the winners in 2005.

On top of that, it must be remembered that there was no play in 2006 and that Guyana defeated Jamaica in 2004 and also in 2005.