Guyana Harpy Eagles’ batting let them down in the CG United Regional Super50 match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, and they were ultimately defeated by six wickets in the semifinal yesterday.
Asked to bat at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Eagles crashed to a paltry 105 all out in 34.3 overs, their lowest total of the tournament. Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was left in a position of despair after Terrance Hinds made early inroads in the top order, leaving Eagles at 25 for four.
The wicket of Shimron Hetmyer was taken courtesy of a brilliant one-handed return catch by Hinds, who ended with a career-best 4-15.
Confusion between the wickets resulted in Chanderpaul being run out for 22 from 43 balls. He struck three boundaries during his vigil before leaving the Eagles at 49 for six.
A late surge from Sherfane Rutherford propped up Eagles into triple figures. He smashed one six and three fours during his 52-ball 30. No other batsman reached double figures, but extras contributed 11.
Yannic Cariah supported Hinds with 2-14. Sunil Narine and Akeal Hosein each picked up one wicket.
Red Force continued their undefeated run as they coasted to 107 for four in 27.4 overs. Former captain Veerasammy Permaul made the early breakthrough for Eagles, removing Tion Webster for 10 with the score on 25. However, a 58-run partnership for the second wicket between Darren Bravo and Kjorn Ottley almost sealed Guyana’s fate.
Bravo continued with his dream run to finish at 53 not out. His 70-ball innings featured eight impeccable boundaries, while Ottley stroked five boundaries before being given leg-before-wicket to Gudakesh Motie for a 59-ball 35.
Motie removed Nicholas Pooran and Jason Mohammed in the same over, but by then it was all but over, as he ended with 3-20.