CG United Super50 tournament: Harpy Eagles confront CCC tomorrow

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Harpy Eagles, having on Wednesday defeated defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by three runs to register their first win of the CG United Super50 tournament, would now be aiming to extend their winning momentum when they face the jaded Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) team tomorrow, Saturday November 5, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from 14:00h.

The Eagles’ recent win against the Red Force was an important one, as described by player of that match, Romario Shepherd, who scored his List A career-best 74 and claimed 2-44. Speaking to Cricket West Indies Media, Shepherd said: “It is our first win, so we will enjoy this one, because it is against one of the best sides in the tournament. We fell short in the first game, knowing that we lose back-to-back, so this was an important game for us.”
Reflecting on how he had constructed the innings, Shepherd said he was focused on putting away the bad balls. “When I went out, we were under a lot of pressure, but I tried to stay calm and play each ball on its merits. I was looking (for the team to score at least 200). Myself and Permaul went out there, and he said if we bat 50 overs, we will get at least 250. I had to be smart and wait on the bad balls,” Shepherd explained.

The Guyana top-order was blown away by Sunil Narine and Shannon Gabriel, while middle-order batsmen Tevin Imlach and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilt the innings. Shepherd added the finishing touches to propel Guyana to 269-9.
The burly Berbician Shepherd has said he was confident with the score at the half-way stage. “At the halfway stage, we were confident. The wicket was really slow and the ball was spinning. We were only taking in consideration the dew, but kudos to Pestano on the way he bowled, and (also to) Sherfane Rutherford,” Shepherd added.
Guyana’s next opponent, CCC, will be led by former West Indies captain and retired international wicketkeeper- batsman Denesh Ramdin. The CCC are yet to get a win in this tournament, having lost to the Windward Islands and to T&T Red Force in the two games of the tournament they have thus far played.
T&T Red Force will also be in action on Saturday, against the undefeated Windward Islands Volcanoes at Queen’s Park Oval. Alick Athanaze has scored two centuries in the two matches he has played this far for the Volcanoes.
Guyana Harpy Eagles: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Quentin Sampson, Clinton Pestano, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Nial Smith, Kevin Sinclair, Kemol Savory.
Combined Campuses & Colleges: Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Matthew Forde (Vice Captain), Amari Goodridge, Abhijai Mansingh, Demario Richards, Isaiah Ali, Jonathan Drakes, Kirstan Kallicharan, Michail Powell, Nathan Edward, Navin Bidaisee, Odain McCatty, Romario Greaves, Zavier Burton.