CWI Regional Four Day Tourney: Guyana Harpy Eagles beat Barbados Pride in a thriller

By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad

With a thumping shot towards long-on, the aggressive Tagenarine Chanderpaul ensured that Guyana Harpy Eagles stormed to a thrilling five-wicket win against defending champions Barbados Pride in a third-round match of the CWI Regional Four-Day tourney being played at the Queen’s Park Oval in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

For the win, the Harpy Eagles had required only 68 runs from 13 overs, after Keemo Paul’s 4-90 and Nial Smith’s 3-76 had restricted Barbados to 291 all out. Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored a composed 111, his 27th first-class century, but received little support from the Pride.
Resuming the fourth and final day on 44-0, Barbados Pride’s duo of openers scored freely in the morning session. They added 84 runs for the first wicket, and it took 26.1 overs for Guyana Harpy Eagles to get the breakthrough.

Looking all set for a big score, Sheyne Moseley played a loose drive, and Nial Smith peeled off his edge, leaving the left-handed Moseley caught behind for a score of 48 runs from 85 balls, which included nine fours.
As he continued to operate from the Media Centre end, Smith troubled Shamarh Brooks, whom he dismissed for 13 – caught behind following a short ball outside off, with the Pride score on 110-2 in 33 overs.
In the process, Kraigg Brathwaite reached his 61st first-class half-century, and
the West Indies Test captain continued to ride his luck from the third day, dispatching debutant Demetri Cameron with ease and grace. In the 37th over, Brathwaite helped himself to three boundaries as the Berbician seamer was bowling from the Brian Lara Pavilion end.

Shai Hope came and played a spanking back-foot punch through cover off Smith, but in Motie’s first over of the day, Hope was trapped leg-before for five.
At 133-3, Roston Chase partnered Brathwaite, and the duo ensured Pride reached lunch at 144-3 after 46 overs. Brathwaite was set on 61, while Chase was on 11.
Upon resumption of play, Smith continued to impress, and he found the edge of Test player Roston Chase, who was caught at first-slip by Leon Johnson for 15. Pride were then reduced to 150-4 after 48.3 overs.

Raymon Reifer, who looked good in the first innings, came and scored at ease, while Brathwaite continued on his merry way. Brathwaite was struck flush on the helmet by a Keemo Paul bouncer, and was rushed off the field. After the drinks break, Brathwaite returned safe, but Permaul removed Reifer for 27. The left-handed Reifer played one into the hands of forward short-leg and was caught by Akshaya Persaud.

After that 47-run stand between Reifer and Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter came, and was dropped by substitute Kevin Sinclair at second slip, then struck a boundary the very next ball after he was dropped.
With Cricket West Indies Lead Selector Dr Desmond Haynes and CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams watching on, Paul was breathing fire and bowling thunderbolts. The man from Essequibo continued to steam in, and his delivery struck Carter below the belt, causing him to go down and out. The next ball he faced, Carter drove into the air and was caught at backward point for six, reducing Pride to 210-6.

At tea, Pride had reached 228-6, with Brathwaite on 91 and Shane Dowrich on 14. Thereafter, Paul, who bowled an extended spell, removed Dowrich for 24 and then got Akeem Jordan for a duck.
The veritable wall of Barbados, Kraigg Brathwaite, was then removed by the impressive Paul for 111, which came off 241 balls. His innings included 16 fours.
The final pair of Keon Harding and Jomel Warrican offered some resistance, and Nial Smith dropped Warrican. However, Motie wrapped things up with the Pride on 291 all out after 93.5 overs. Paul ended with 4-90 from 26 overs, which included seven maidens. Smith had 3-76 from 18 overs, while Motie had 2-35 from 17.5 overs.
With Guyana requiring 68 runs from 13 overs, Paul and Chandrapaul Hemraj opened the batting, and the Pride’s ploy was to bowl wide. Guyana was ready to attack from the get-go, in the process of which Guyana lost Paul for 11, Hemraj for six, Tevin Imlach for seven, and Akshya Persaud for four. Gudakesh Motie also departed for two, but captain Leon Johnson and Tagenarine Chanderpaul ensured there were no further hiccups.
While many fans back home were on the edges of their seats, as were the players in the dugout, Johnson made an unbeaten 14 from 24 balls. Chanderpaul, however, was in top gear, hitting an unbeaten 23 from 10 balls to seal the deal and calm the nerves. He struck four boundaries, including a scoop shot.
Guyana will play Jamaica Scorpions at Diego Martin in Trinidad from Wednesday, May 25.