West Indies 4-Day Championship 2023: Hurricanes take slim lead

-after blowing away Guyana for 122

Guyana Harpy Eagles were pegged back on the opening day of their fifth-round match of the West Indies 4-Day Championship against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Providence.
Led by a four-wicket haul from Rahkeem Cornwall, Guyana were bowled out for 122 in 44.1 overs. In reply, Hurricanes took an 11-run lead, heading into day two on 133-5 after 43 overs.
In reply to Guyana’s 122 all out, Leeward Islands lost Larry Audin, trapped at the crease by a sharp Nial Smith inswinger at 4-1. Keacy Carty and Kieran Powell survived some close calls, and went into tea with Hurricanes on 9-1 after five overs.
Carty and Powell looked to rebuild with a 69-run second- wicket stand, but Powell forced the ball into mid-on, and Guyana clawed back. Powell made 39, the top-score of the day, while captain Jahmar Hamilton is unbeaten on 35. Carty, who also got a start, scored 23.

Veerasammy Permaul was the pick of the bowlers for Guyana with 2-31 in 12 overs, while Nial Smith, Kevin Sinclair and Antony Adams had one wicket each.

Guyana batting meltdown
Earlier, Guyana Harpy Eagles won the toss and opted to bat first. Gudakesh Motie was out due to a back injury, while Ronsford Beaton was suspended from bowling with an illegal action. Shamar Joseph and Antony Adams were the changes from the last match.
Left-handed opener Matthew Nandu and Tagenarine Chanderpaul added 32 runs for the opening stand. The duo negotiated 8.5 overs, but left-arm seamer Colin Archibald found the outside edge of Test opener Chanderpaul for 12. He was caught at the wicket, and, seven runs later, Nandu was dismissed in similar fashion, but by the turn and bounce of Cornwall. Nandu made 22, which was the top-score for Guyana.

Wickets continued to tumble as Jeremiah Louis induced Kemol Savory to a loose shot. The Essequibian Savory made four, and Guyana were 56-3.
Kevlon Anderson, who continues to find it difficult at First-Class level, made 16, and he was caught under the bat for 16, handing Cornwall his second wicket.
Guyana went to lunch at 75-4, and it was Leon Johnson who was the man removed before the interval. He chipped one into the hand of Kofi James for eight, after facing 41 balls. Johnson also fell to Cornwall.
Upon resumption, wickets continued to crumble. Kevin Sinclair (12) and Antony Adams (12) were the other batsmen in the lower-order to reach double figures, as Hurricanes completed the top bowling effort. Guyana folded for 122 in 44.1 overs.
Cornwall ended with 4-27, while Javier Spencer and Archibald had two wickets each. Shamar Joseph was run out in a poor error with himself and Adams.
Day two continues from 10:00h today at Providence. (Brandon Corlette)