Harpy Eagles eye direct final spot as West Indies Championship race tightens

Reigning champions Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) will look to tighten their grip at the top of the standings when they face the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the decisive third round of the West Indies Championship, with playoff places still up for grabs.
GHE have made a strong start to their title defence, winning both of their opening matches to lead the table with 43.2 points. They sit ahead of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on 37 points, while the Jamaica Scorpions (29.6) and Barbados Pride (19.8) round out the top four heading into the final round of bilateral matches.
Under this year’s format, the team finishing first at the end of the series will advance directly to the final scheduled for May 17–20. The teams finishing second and third will meet in a playoff from May 10–13 to determine the other finalist, adding further importance to the upcoming fixtures.
Guyana captain Tevin Imlach has cautioned against complacency as his side prepares for the Windward Islands clash at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, stressing the importance of staying focused on the immediate task.
“We will assess what that pitch looks like and then come up with our game plan. We focus on one game at a time because all we can control is what is in the present,” Imlach said.
Elsewhere, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force have made one change to their squad, with spinner Ricky Jaipaul replacing the rested Jayden Seales for their match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Antigua Recreation Ground. Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva expressed confidence in his team’s depth, noting that their performances so far have been solid despite their previous match ending in a draw.
“The cricket we’ve been playing is fantastic. We can’t fault the effort of the players. Even though we will miss Jayden, we have the depth to continue doing well,” Da Silva stated.
The Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Windward Islands Volcanoes remain mathematically in contention but face an uphill battle. With a maximum of 26 points available from a match, the Hurricanes can reach 36.8 points, while the Volcanoes can climb to 33.6. However, their chances are limited, particularly with Jamaica and Barbados set to face each other at Sabina Park, ensuring that at least one direct rival gains valuable points.
The Jamaica Scorpions have made two changes to their squad, bringing in Brandon King and Alex Hinds to replace Ojay Shields and Jeavor Royal. Head Coach Robert Haynes highlighted the need for improvement in the field, particularly in catching, as they prepare for the crucial encounter.
“We must improve on the catching because we dropped a few chances that cost us. We also want more penetration from our fast bowlers with the new ball,” Haynes said.
Barbados Pride Head Coach Vasbert Drakes believes his team is progressing and could deliver a strong performance in the final round, though he acknowledged the need to address their bowling concerns.
“We are improving with the bat, but we need to find ways to limit their opening partnership, which has been key for Jamaica,” Drakes explained.
Individually, Kevin Wickham leads the batting charts with 366 runs, followed by John Campbell with 298 and Kirk McKenzie with 290. In the bowling department, Guyana’s Gudakesh Motie tops the wicket tally with 16 scalps, including two five-wicket hauls, ahead of Jayden Seales (13) and Peat Salmon (10).
All matches in the round are scheduled to begin at 10:00h local time. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will face Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Antigua Recreation Ground; Jamaica Scorpions will take on Barbados Pride at Sabina Park, while Guyana Harpy Eagles will meet Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in what could prove decisive in shaping the race to the final. (CWI)