CWI Regional 4-Day tourney: Rain hits another day in Guyana-Trinidad contest

By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad

Only 20.2 overs were possible at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad in the fifth and final round clash of the West Indies Four-Day Championships match between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Red Force resumed the third day on 203-9, and ended on 218 all out, with Keemo Paul claiming 6-50 from 19.2 overs.
The covers never came off in the afternoon session, with Guyana Harpy Eagles on 30-0 after 16 overs, trailing by 188 runs.
After it had rained for the entire day two, Red Force resumed on 203-9, their overnight score from day one. Terrance Hinds attempted to play his shots while shielding Shannon Gabriel, but Paul uprooted the stumps of Gabriel.
Red Force innings ended on 218 all out in 94.2 overs. Paul ended with 6-50 from 19.2 overs. Jeremy Solozano was the top-scorer with 72 and Jason Mohammed made 68.

Guyana Harpy Eagles started their first innings’ reply in cautious fashion. The Red Force began with the off-spinner bowling to openers Tevin Imlach and Tagenarine Chanderpaul. Imlach opened the scoring with a spanking cover drive off Gabriel, which went into the boundary.
Imlach looked solid in his stroke-play, while Chanderpaul was slow to get going. The Red Force players were saying to Chanderpaul, “If you want to play Test cricket, you have to play shots.”
At 11:00h, the deluge commenced, and the players rushed off the field. The covers came on with Harpy Eagles on 19-0 after 12.4 overs. Imlach was on 16 from 41 balls, while Chanderpaul was on one from 36 balls.
At 11:00h, the players came off with the score on 19-0 after 12.4 overs. The groundsmen then attempted to take the covers off at 12:45h but the showers came again, and the covers were grounded again at 13:24h. At 14:50h, the covers came off, and the stumps were rooted despite overcast conditions at Queen’s Park.
It was then official that play will resume at 15:40h, with 30.2 overs (minimum), and close of play was set for 17:30h. At 15:59h, the covers came on again, with Guyana on 30-0 in 16 overs. Imlach, who struck Gabriel for another boundary, was looking good on 25 not out from 54 balls, and Chanderpaul was on three from 43 balls. The rain had affected the other matches as well, and with one day left in the championships, Barbaods Pride are expected to retain the title, while Leeward Islands are expected to finish in second.