CWI Regional 4-Day tourney: Guyana-Trinidad contest ends in draw

…Sinclair, Imlach record half-centuries

By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad

The contest between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force ended in a draw after rain had persistently intervened over the days of the match, although Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair had made contrasting half-centuries to see Guyana Harpy Eagles post 331 all out in 83.1 overs at Queen’s Park Oval.

Barbados Pride have consequently been crowned winners of the West Indies Regional Four-Day championships.
The game ended with Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on 25-1.
Resuming the final day on 30-0 after 16 overs, Guyana Harpy Eagles reached lunch on 113-4 after 37.4 overs.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Tevin Imlach took the score past 50, but right-arm seamer Uthman Muhammad produced a good delivery to peel the edge of Chanderpaul, who was caught behind for 25 from 75 balls. That ended a 72-run partnership, but it was the start of an eventual over in the context of the game.

Muhammad, who was then driven for four by Leon Johnson, got a straight delivery to keep low, and Johnson was bowled all ends up playing back. He made four.
Imlach, who had gotten some chances, then added 33 runs with Vishaul Singh for the third wicket, before off-spinner Charles got the wicket of Singh, caught behind in attempting to cut. He made 19 from 30 balls in an innings that included three fours.

The struggling Akshaya Persaud then came and looked tentative at the crease. His stay was brief, and he was trapped by Charles after scoring three.
With the score at 113-4, Persaud fell and lunch was taken. Prior to that lunch interval, the players had left the field after the rain came at 11:35 and delayed the game for 13 minutes. Play was resumed at 11:48h after the rain had passed, and Imlach was unbeaten on 49 from 108 balls.
Upon resumption of the game, Keemo Paul partnered Imlach, and the duo added 28 runs to the score. Imlach reached his half-century in the process, while Paul came and attacked. He slammed Imran Khan over his head for a six, but was bowled by Charles for 20 as he played across the line.

Kevin Sinclair came and played his usual attacking game. He struck boundaries at will while Imlach’s innings finally came to an end when he was trapped leg-before to seamer Terrance Hinds.
Imlach departed with the score on 205-6; he and Sinclair had added 64 runs for the sixth wicket. His innings of 76 came off 172 balls, and included eight fours and one six. That six came off a full-blooded pull over fine-leg.
Sinclair continued to play dashing shots while living on the edge. He reached his maiden first-class fifty with a glorious cover drive, and his milestone came from 69 balls. He then slapped Hinds for four, but fell to the same bowler, trapped at the crease for 58. His top knock included seven fours and two sweet sixes.
Sinclair having departed at 218-7, Veerasammmy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie joined forces and took the Guyanese side to tea on 269-7, enjoying a lead of 51 runs. Motie was on 31 while Permaul was on 15. After spanking eight fours, Motie departed for 37 from 33 balls. He was caught behind off the bowling of Hinds when the score was at 277-8, and a 59-run stand had come to an end.
Nial Smith and Permaul added 54 vital runs to the tally, with Smith playing some lovely shots. Permaul was, however, trapped leg-before for 47. Smith ended his innings unbeaten on 21 from 20 balls. Charles ended with 3-56 in 18 overs, while Hinds had 3-75 in 14 overs.
In response, Red Force ended on 25-1. Joshua DaSilva made two before being trapped by the impressive Keemo Paul, who ended with 20 wickets in the season, finishing behind Rahkeem Cornwall’s 23 wickets.