Cleveland captain Mackih McGowan has expressed his burning desire to make his bedridden grandmother proud by beating Bailey’s Bay in the Eastern Counties second round at Lord’s today.

McGowan, the son of former Cleveland captain McNeil McGowan, wants to put a smile on his father’s mother, who, while she is unable to witness her grandson in action, remains a huge Cleveland fan.

“It would be nice to win it for my grandmother, Roseclair McGowan, who is 98 and at Sylvia Richardson Care Facility,” McGowan told The Royal Gazette.

“Every year she always asks ‘are you going to win the cup and bring it back home? So it’s definitely something for me to play for. It would be nice to give her something to cheer about.

“I’m not sure how much time she’s left to live, so I want to win it while she’s still alive. She’s getting up in age, but she’s aware of what’s going on. I know she’ll be following the action on the radio.

“Every year she sends her good wishes and I have a good feeling about this year, especially if the weather holds up and gives us a chance to play.

“She’s seen her sons, that is my father and uncles win the cup for Cleveland, and I’m just trying to carry on the tradition. I’m just trying to implement the same mentality as someone who grew up in Devil’s Hole.”

The challengers have recalled batter Jason Anderson, as well as all-rounders Clay Darrell and Damali Bell, a former St George’s Cup Match player.

Zeri Tomlinson misses out as he is leading the Bermuda at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Americas Qualifier in the United States, Q’Shai Darrell drops to the reserves to signal a full decline for the former vice-captain, while Tamauri Tucker is completely out of the squad.

McGowan believes the arrival of Anderson and Darrell gives their batting some stability.

“Over the last couple of years we've definitely picked a team that can challenge for the title,” he said.

“We have brought in guys like Clay Darrell and Jason Anderson. A guy like Jason gives us what we've been missing over the last couple of years; the openers just couldn’t get us off to a good start.

“Seven of the players we picked have scored a hundred in their career, so it’s an experienced team. We have picked players that have the mentality to win and we hope that they can bring that along on Saturday.”

In 2023, McGowan’s first season as Cleveland captain, his team never got to challenge for the honours as the final at Sea Breeze Oval became a victim of the hurricane season.

A year ago, Cleveland bowed out in the first round when they lost to Bay by 142 runs, but McGowan otherwise remembers it fondly for taking seven for 93.

“Last year was really promising,” the Cleveland captain said.

“I actually hit a milestone in that match as it was my first time getting seven wickets in the Eastern Counties. What I learnt from last year is that even though cricket is a team sport, you need some individual brilliance.

“This year is more about everybody coming together as a team and understanding that it’s going to take not just the 11 players on the field, it’s going to take everyone to fight for the win.

“There’ll be times when Bay have a good partnership and we just have to keep fighting through it. It’s all about fighting for the badge, and that’s how we selected the team this year. It’s about those willing to put up a fight.”

With seasoned players such as Makai Young, Steven Bremar Jr, Dion Stovell, Allan Douglas Jr and Treadwell Gibbons Jr to count on, McGowan believes they have what it takes to topple Bay.

“We have a lot of experience in our team this year,” he added.

“If we can all put our heads together, not just play for ourselves and our own accolades but we do it for the community, we should, hopefully, come out on top.”

Bay decided not to tamper too much with a winning team by making one change to the side that held off Flatts by ten runs in the opening round last month.

Tre Manders has come in to strengthen the batting which already has captain Terryn Fray, Coolidge Durham, Delray Rawlins, Azendé Furbert and Jarryd Richardson.

Slow bowling has proved to be the key for the holders. Derrick Brangman, who is not available if Bay make it to the final against St David’s on August 30, has nine wickets in his last two appearances.

The St David’s league captain’s combination with off spinner Rodney Trott could trouble Cleveland, once Zeko Burgess and Kyle Hodsoll take the shine off the new ball.