Guyana Harpy Eagles trials: Junior Sinclair’s spectacular 11-wicket match haul highlights second trials

By Brandon Corlette at Albion

A brilliant Junior Sinclair stole the show in the second Guyana Harpy Eagles Four-day trial match at Albion. He claimed figures of 11-59 in 36 overs to lead Keemo Paul’s XI to an eight-wicket win on day three.
Resuming the third day on 116-7 after 45 overs, Leon Johnson’s XI posted 163 all out in 71.4 overs. That left Paul’s XI a total of 67 runs to chase, a feat they accomplished in 12.2 overs, ending on 71-2.
The third day began with Sharaz Ramcharran and Javed Karim at the crease. Despite being dropped early in the morning, Ramcharran was the first man dismissed for 23 from 42 balls. He struck three fours, but a sharp return catch to Junior Sinclair ended his promising knock.
The rain intervened at 10:20h and at 11:00h, which forced an early lunch. But play resumed, compliments of a significant change of weather and the hard-working groundsmen, led by Roger McDonald.
After the 41-run eighth-wicket partnership ended at 144-8, Leon Swamy, who had a pair in this match, was cleaned all ends up by the impressive Junior Sinclair at 146-9. Karim, who made a duck in the first innings, redeemed himself and played along nicely. Despite the constant change of weather, his solidity remained unchanged.

Karim, who plays locally for Blairmont, was dropped on 33 by Nealand Codugan, who had five dropped catches in this trial match. Karim was joined by Chaitram Balgobin, and the duo stuck around, adding 19 runs for the final wicket. Balgobin struck a sweet six off Richie Looknauth, but the off-spinner removed him for 13. That left Karim stranded on a top-score of 36 from 144 balls, which included three fours, in 144 minutes.

Junior Sinclair ended with 6-41 in 25 brilliant overs, inclusive of 13 maidens. He had 5-18 in 11 overs in the first innings, and ended the match with career-best 11-59 in 36 overs. The consistent Anthony Adams had 2-41 in 18 overs, while Looknauth had 1-15 in 8.4 overs and Qumar Torrington had 1-15 in six overs.
In response, openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Trevon Griffith added 22 runs off 4.5 overs. Kevin Sinclair removed Chanderpaul for eight, shattering his stumps. During Kevin’s reaction to the loss of his wicket, he gave Chanderpaul an unnecessary send-off. The pugnacious Griffith continued to hit Nial Smith to the boundary, but his breezy innings of 30 from 19 balls, which included five fours, came to an end when he was caught at mid-on.

Tevin Imlach (08*) and the aggressive Seon Glasgow took the game home, with Glasgow slamming Kevin Sinclair for a six, ending the match in 12.2 overs. Glasgow, a strong man who plays for Blairmont, ended unbeaten on 28 from 18 balls, which were decorated with two thumping fours and one six.

The likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul and Vishaul Singh, among others, did not play for various reasons. Some of the young players looked promising, but most looked unprepared to play among senior national players. The final trials before the Regional 4-Day tournament bowls off next month is set for January 20-23 at a venue to be announced.