West Indies 4-Day Championships: Sinclair puts GHE back in the game
– after batting collapse
A four-wicket haul from Kevin Sinclair late in the afternoon has salvaged what would’ve otherwise been a disappointing day at the office for the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) as they began Round Three of the West Indies 4-Day Championships.
Opposing the West Indies Academy at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, the Harpy Eagles won the toss and opted to bat first; and were routed for 175 in 54.3 overs.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul was first to go: for 14 from 46 balls; after which Matthew Nandu and Tevin Imlach seemingly struck up a steady partnership. It was, however, short-lived, as Nandu fell for 28 from 66 deliveries.
Eventually, the highest score on the Guyanese roster came off the bat of Ronaldo Alimohamed, who remained unbeaten on 30. The next best scores came from Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair, who both added 24 runs to the score.
Birthday boy Joshua James had a day to remember in taking 4-43 from 13.3 overs to ruffle the feathers of the Harpy Eagles. Joshua Bishop claimed 2-31 from 12 overs, while Johann Layne took another 2 wickets for 27 runs from 12 overs. Ashmead Nedd and Kevin Pittman were responsible for the remaining wickets.
As the Academy began their chase late in the afternoon, Sinclair returned the favour in reducing the young team to 38-4 in 13 overs. He first had Mbeki Joseph caught by Gudakesh Motie for 11 runs from 18 balls, then he cleaned up Ackeem Auguste for one, while Teddy Bishop and Jordan Johnson each departed for 2 runs as Sinclair returned figures of 4-8 in 5 overs.
However, Rashawn Worrell and Joshua Bishop put on a 58-run partnership to lift the Academy team to 96-4 by close of play.
In pursuing the fifth wicket, Sinclair ended the day with 4-32 from 9 overs, while the economical Motie conceded only 13 runs in 15 overs.
When Day 2 resumes today, Worrell will continue on 34 from 75 deliveries, while Bishop is resuming the day on 33 from 41 balls.