CWI Regional Four-Day Tourney: Harpy Eagles at 219-4 after half- centuries from Chanderpaul and Imlach

By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad

Guyana Harpy Eagles ended a sunny opening day in their match against the Barbados Pride at 219-4, after 90 overs were bowled at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

In the third round of their Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Regional Four-Day Tournament, playing against Barbados Pride, Harpy Eagles’ Tagenarine Chanderpaul batted all day to end on 64 not out, while Tevin Imlach scored 53, his maiden first-class half-century, earlier in the day.

Under glorious sunshine at the beautiful Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, Guyana Harpy Eagles won the toss and opted to bat first, on a good batting pitch with a bit of grass covering. Berbician pacer Demetri Cameron made his debut, while Vishaul Singh and Kevin Sinclair were the players to miss out. The Essequibo duo of Ronsford Beaton and Antony Adams are the reserves.

The aggressive Chandrapaul Hemraj started in his usual attacking mode, and found the boundary on four occasions. Dropped at second slip by Jonathan Carter on 14 off pacer Akeem Jordan, the left-hander did not capitalise on his early life, and five runs later in his innings, departed for 19 from 20 balls, caught behind off the bowling of Raymon Reifer.
After that wicket, opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Tevin Imlach dropped anchor, and went to lunch at 68-1, with Imlach on 32 not out and Chanderpaul unbeaten on 11.

In an earlier incident, looking positive after the drinks break, the right-handed Imlach had played a sweet cover-drive off the first-ball of Roston Chase, and had continued to gain in confidence.
After the lunch break, Imlach was dropped by Carter at backward point on 38, as he attempted to cut a short Jomel Warrican delivery. He continued along nicely, and reached his half-century in the process.

Jordan finally got his reward when Imlach edged one to Shamarh Brooks at second slip, with the score on 114-2 after 53.5 overs. Imlach had made a composed 53 from 148 balls, which included seven fours, and had shared a 94-run second-wicket partnership with Chanderpaul.
At the tea interval, Harpy Eagles were 116-2 after 57 overs. Minutes after the tea break, captain Leon Johnson attempted to use his feet, but Shane Dowrich was unable to complete the stumping. Johnson, who has been struggling to score big runs, played some aggressive shots, but as soon as he was looking classy, he gifted his wicket to Kraigg Brathwaite, who flighted one, and Johnson fell, caught at mid-off for 37. He had faced 77 balls in an innings that included six fours, and had featured with Chanderpaul in a 58-run partnership.
Akshya Persaud, who had been struggling in the recent practice matches in Guyana, made only 13. He was bowled by debutant pacer Jordan at 191-4. Chanderpaul watched his partners fall, but in the process, he reached his 11th first-class half-century. On a few occasions, he attempted to dance down the track to the Barbadian spinners, in small signs of aggression.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble came and looked at his usual aggressive best, ending the day with a six. Prior to that, he struck three fours in his run-a-ball 21.
Jordan had 2-50 in 18 overs, while Reifer and Brathwaite had one wicket each. Bramble and Chanderpaul will restart the second day from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Summary from other matches:
Windwards: 137 all out. Keron Cottoy 50. Marquino Mindley 5-20. Nicholson Gordon 4-43. <Jamaica:> 118-4. John Campbell 48. Preston McSween 2-38.
Leewards: 308-7. Kieran Powell 139, Amir Jangoo 58. Jayden Seales 2-35.