Clarke, Goodridge tons stun Harpy Eagles on Day 1

As if to send a message to the Directors of Cricket West Indies (CWI) that they should have had an extended presence at the ongoing West Indies Regional Four-Day Championships; the West Indies Academy showed up and showed out on Sunday, racking up an unbeaten 423-6 on Day 1.
The day began on a high note for the defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE), who handed over caps to Jonathan Van Lange and Zeynul Ramsammy on the occasion of their First-Class debuts, at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John’s.
However, the Academy won the toss and courageously opted to bat first.
For a moment, it appeared as though the Academy’s decision would backfire after Damel Evelyn departed early for 11 after being trapped by Veerasammy Permaul. Guyanese batsman Mavendra Diindyal came to the Academy’s rescue, teaming up with opener Mbeki Joseph for a 58-run partnership that steadied the ship for the Academy.

Joseph hit a brisk 60 off 53, inclusive of 7 fours and 3 sixes, while Dindyal slammed 7 fours and 1 six in his 45 off 53 deliveries.
Their departure, close to each other, brought a moment of relief to the Harpy Eagles’ camp, heightened by the loss of another pair of quick wickets in Giovonte Depeiza and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett.
After the lunch break and a morning session that clearly belonged to the Harpy Eagles, who reduced their opponents to 149-5, Rivaldo Clarke and Amari Goodridge turned the tides on the defending champions.
A frustrating 254-run partnership ensued for the seventh-wicket, in which both batters brought up their first First-Class centuries.
Clarke reached the milestone in 122 balls, after launching Gudakesh Motie for a pir of sixes in the 57th over. On the other hand, it took Goodridge 139 balls to reach the milestone, similarly hitting Motie for a pair of boundaries to get across the line.
The pair were not done there, pressing on to ensure that they would remain unbeaten at close of play. Clarke will resume Day 2 on an unbeaten 165 from 213 deliveries, punctuated by 20 fours and 5 sixes. Meanwhile, Goodridge will resume on 109 from 160 balls, hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes.
For the Guyanese bowlers, Permaul claimed 3-113 from 28 overs while Richie Looknauth picked up 3-86 from 18 overs.
Meanwhile, over at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Cephas Cooper’s 93 and Joshua Da Silva’s unbeaten 65 were the highlights for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, who got to 298-7 on Day 1 against the Barbados Pride in the second-third playoff. Both Johann Layne and Shamar Springer claimed 2 wickets a piece for Barbados.
The 4-Day action will resume at 10:00h today at both venues.