( L - R ) Devon smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Matches between Guyana and the Windward Islands are usually memorable ones and today's clash in the opening round of the KFC Cup West Indies limited-overs competition at Albion should be no different.

When the Windwards won the first of their two titles at this level in 1989, it was Guyana they beat in the final in Grenada.

The two teams were involved in the first ever tie in regional limited-overs cricket 14 years ago at Albion the Windwards were later awarded the match due to losing fewer wickets.

Start as favourites

On home turf and with a full strength batting brigade, Guyana, the region's most successful limited-overs side with nine titles, should start as favourite the visitors were the first to arrive in Guyana and had two practice games on South American soil to prepare for the conditions here.

Guyana have missed just one semi-final (2000) in the last 10 years, while the Windwards have been one of the top limited-overs teams in the region with appearances in the last three semi-finals.

Both teams know that this competition will see a new set of semi-finalists since defending champions Trinidad & Tobago, runner-up Windwards and beaten semi-finalist Guyana are in the same zone with only the top two teams from each zone advancing to the historic 'final four' under lights in Barbados.

Barbados, T&T, Guyana and the Windwards were the last KFC Cup semi-finalists this year in St. Vincent.

At a venue which hosted the inaugural ODI in the West Indies three decades ago, a ram-packed crowd and fine weather is anticipated.

Experienced Players

On a flat pitch and fast outfield, the fans could be in for a treat if West Indies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan reproduces his form of the record-breaking 2005 tournament, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Travis Dowlin, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, and the all-rounders get stuck in.

Windwards and West Indies opener Devon Smith could be devastating against the new-ball pair of the experienced Reon King and Esuan Crandon and if he gets support from Andre Fletcher, Donwell Hector, Heron Campbell, Darren Sammy, Liam Sebastian, Lynden James and Windwards captain Rawl Lewis, the fans could get plenty of excitement.