Guyana Harpy Eagles Trials: 17 wickets fall on eventful day two as Sinclairs dominate

By Brandon Corlette at Albion

Off-spinners Kevin and Junior Sinclair dominated the second day of the Guyana Harpy Eagles trial match at Albion. Playing on opposite teams, Kevin claimed 5-61 for Leon Johnson’s XI, while his cousin Junior, playing for Keemo Paul’s XI, backed up his five-wicket haul in the first innings with 4-32.

At stumps on day two, Johnson’s XI were 116-7 after 45 overs, with a lead of 19. Javed Karim and Sharaz Ramcharran are unbeaten at the crease. In the first innings, on day one, Johnson’s XI made 121 all out, while Paul’s XI resumed day two on 143-0 and slumped to 218 all out.

Five-star Kevin Sinclair
Despite early morning showers across the Ancient County of Berbice, the match commenced as scheduled, and only one short rain interval was taken. Resuming the second day on 143-0, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Trevon Griffth failed to convert first day starts into centuries. Chanderpaul added only one run to his overnight score, despite facing 43 balls on day two.

Griffith was the first batsman dismissed, for 65 from 118 balls, decorated with six fours. He attempted a booming drive off Nial Smith, but found mid-off. Two runs later, at 154-2, Tevin Imlach (02) was caught off a Ronsford Beaton short-ball.
Chanderpaul was then trapped by Kevin Sinclair for 86 from 172 balls, with nine fours to his name, and Seon Glasgow fell for a duck soon after.
Akshaya Persaud was then removed for two by Sinclair.
In that period, five wickets fell for four runs for Paul’s XI. Anthony Bramble attempted to repair the innings, but he was dismissed on the stroke of lunch for 19 from 43 balls, which had one four and one six. At lunch the score was 192-7 after 67 overs, with Clinton Pestano on 12, which included three fours off Kevin Sinclair.
Junior Sinclair, who claimed five wickets in the first innings, failed to replicate his heroics with the bat, scoring only three. He was removed by his cousin Kevin when he found Johnson at slips. The final three wickets came quickly after lunch, Kevin removed Pestano (14) and Richie Looknauth (07), to end with 5-61 from 26 good overs, including nine maidens. He displayed skill, extracting some turn and bounce while varying his pace to perfection.
Paul’s XI were bowled out for 218, but they had a useful lead of 97 runs. Beaton had 2-26 from 13 overs, which had seven maidens. Smith who was quick in his approach, took the final wicket with the first attempt with the second new ball, removing Steven Sankar trapped in front for a golden duck. The speedster claimed 2-10 from 7.1 overs.

Junior Sinclair stars again
In the second innings, Hemraj began with a touch of class, while Anderson was cautious in his approach. The duo saw off new-ball bowlers Keon Joseph and Pestano. Hemraj was dropped on 21 off the bowling of Joseph at mid-off by Nealand Codugan. Hemraj timed the ball sweetly, and found the boundaries thrice, got value for his runs on a much faster outfield, in contrast to the first trial match.
Hemraj eventually was bowled all ends up by a sharp Junior Sinclair at 35-1 on the stroke of tea. Junior began to work his magic, and got support from Anthony Adams. Promising seamer Qumar Torrington trapped Sachin Singh (04) at the crease, and then wickets fell like dominoes at Albion. Seven runs after, Anderson, who looked solid for most parts of his innings, fell leg-before to Adams for 22 from 86 balls.

Junior Sinclair then bowled Kemol Savory for one, trapped Leon Johnson for five, and removed a carefree Ronoldo Ali Mohammed (04). At 70-6, Kevin came and smashed Adams for three fours in successive balls, but was removed the very next ball by the persistent Adams.
Sinclair had a leading edge, and was caught for 25 from 13 balls. His breezy innings included three fours and one six. His was the final wicket to fall on the day, with the score on 107-3. Karim (15) and Ramcharran (10) ensured no further hiccups. Junior, who claimed 5-18 in 11 overs on day one, ended day two with 4-32 in 16 impressive overs, which had six maidens; while Adams had 2-31 in 12 overs. The third day will bowl off from 9:30h.