CG United Regional Super50 tournament 2023: Guyana Harpy Eagles in winning start against WI Volcanoes

The Guyana Harpy Eagles have defeated the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 10 runs in their opening match of the Regional Super50 last night.
Their match was played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, where the Volcanoes won the toss and inserted the Eagles to take first strike. The Eagles managed 229 for nine in their allotted overs, and the Volcanoes responded with 219 all out in 46 overs.
The Eagles lost Chandrapaul Hemraj for one, trapped leg before wicket to Ryan John in the second over, but Tevin Imlach joined Tagenarine Chanderpaul to put on 63 runs for the second wicket.
Chanderpaul, who recorded 29 runs from 60 balls, was out attempting a hook shot off the bowling of Shadrack Descarte, only for a juggling catch to finally settle in Shermon Lewis’s hands.

Eagles then lost Kevlon Anderson for a single run, but Tevin Imlach continued his push. Imlach played cautiously for his 73-ball 41, hitting just three boundaries before being bowled by John.
The big guns Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer scored 22 and 21 respectively, and Kevin Sinclair ensured the Eagles reached 200 with 41 from 48 balls, striking one six and four fours along the way.
Gudakesh Motie chipped in with 29, while Romario Shepherd made 14, and extras propped up the score with 21.
John was the pick of the bowlers; he took 4-60 and Descarte supported with 2-25.
The Volcanoes’ response was an eruption from the onset, with Alick Athanaze smashing 11 fours and two sixes on his way to a pulsating 55-ball 75. Athanaze shared in a 35-run partnership for the opening wicket with Johnson Charles (14) to lay the platform for the chase.
Sunil Ambris (19) and Tevyn Walcott (16) each had cameos, and Andre Fletcher showed his experience and looked set to lead his side over the line with 52 not out. His 85-ball innings featured just two boundaries.
Volcanoes were staring down victory with 29 runs needed in the final 10 overs, but managed to spill the match as a mix up between the wickets for the last wicket, coupled with sharp fielding by the Eagles, resulted in a run out.
Fletcher highlighted that the batting didn’t do as well as they could, and said he felt the middle order could have done more. The skipper credited Athanaze for his batting exploits and the bowlers for their hard work.
The Eagles bowlers shared the wickets, with Shepherd taking 3-35. Sinclair capped an all-round match worthy of the “player of the match” award by taking 2-42, while Nial Smith took 2-44. Left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul each took one wicket.