WI 4-Day Championships: Nandu stands tall on debut with unbeaten half-century

By Brandon Corlette in Antigua

Opener Matthew Nandu has stood tall at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in his debut innings, scoring an unbeaten 71 to lead Guyana Harpy Eagles to 205-5 from 76.4 overs on day one.
Playing against defending champions Barbados Pride in this first-round clash of the West Indies 4-Day Championships, the 19-year-old Nandu displayed the skill of playing late and leaving the ball.
Delay and discussion surrounded the opening day at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Guyana Harpy Eagles were asked to bat by Barbados Pride. The Eagles have three debutants in the team: Matthew Nandu, Shamar Joseph and Kemol Savory.

Players left the field after a delivery bowled by Keon Harding flew off the pitch at 8-0. Some players and management from both teams expressed dissatisfaction at the state of the surface, but play resumed at 11:20h.
Nandu took 14 balls to get off the mark in First-Class cricket, but when he did so with a boundary towards fine-leg, he looked solid. The duo went to lunch at 29-0 with Nandu on 14 and Chandrapaul Hemraj on 11.
In the second session, Pride bowlers came out with purpose. Nandu’s opening partner Chandrapaul Hemraj was struck on the gloves, as he looked uncomfortable during his 11. The left-handed Hemraj was dismissed by pacer Zachary McAllister at 30-1.

Tevin Imlach came and went for a duck, as he was adjudged leg-before by Akeem Jordan. The two debutants Matthew Nandu and Kemol Savory joined forces at 35-2. Savory came and looked positive during his strokeplay, driving and punching in finesse. The Essequibian struck three fours in his 25, after adding 45 runs with Nandu for the third wicket.
Nandu was then partnered by skipper Leon Johnson at 80-3. The 19-year-old Nandu was dropped on 40 at first slip off the bowling of Keon Harding, but he continued to build his innings. He eventually reached his 50 from 124 balls.
At tea, Guyana reached 122-3, with Nandu and Johnson at the crease. The youngster Nandu, who played most of his cricket in Canada and is the son of former National player Arjune Nandu, became the first Guyanese to score a half-century on First-Class debut since 1987. Nandu joined Sudesh Dhaniram who recorded a similar feat in his maiden match.

After Johnson departed for 26 Anthony Bramble came and went for 20, as he became another Guyanese batsman who failed to capitalise on a start. Kevin Sinclair joined Nandu, and the duo took Guyana to stumps without further hiccups. Sinclair is unbeaten on 28, while Nandu will resume on 71.
Nandu faced 222 balls and struck nine fours in his solid innings. Off-spinner Chaim Holder, who extracted bounce and turn, had 2-36 from 25 overs, while seamer Akeem Jordan had 2-34 from 16 overs. Play for day two is set for 9:30am Eastern Caribbean Time after overs being lost on day one.

Summarised scores of the other two matches
At Coolidge Cricket Ground: Leeward Hurricanes vs Jamaica Scorpions
Leeward Hurricanes: 163-6 from 90 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 40, Montcin Hodge 37, Rahkeem Cornwall 29*, Jeremiah Louis 17*; Abhijai Mansingh 2-27, Marquino Mindley 1-11, Jamie Merchant 1-23)
At Grenada National Stadium: Windward Volcanoes vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force
Windward Volcanoes: 243 all out from 63.1 overs (Tevyn Walcott 87*, Sunil Ambris 55, Alick Athanaze 41, Ryan John 36; Bryan Charles 4-46, Terrance Hinds 4-72) & 60-0 from 16 overs (Kimani Melius 39*, Jerlani Robinson 19*) trail Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 315 all out from 92.1 overs (Amir Jangoo 86, Tion Webster 79, Hinds 52, Darren Bravo 38, Jeremy Solozano 34; Ryan John 5-18, Darius Martin 2-80) by 12 runs