West Indies 4-Day Championships 2023: Guyana Harpy Eagles claim 3 wickets after Nandu’s marathon century

By Brandon Corlette in Antigua

Matthew Nandu’s memorable maiden First-Class century on debut has led Guyana Harpy Eagles to 371 all out against Barbados Pride in the first round of the West Indies’ 4-Day Championships in Antigua.
The 19-year-old Nandu’s marathon innings of 126 came off 337 balls in 503 minutes, and was decorated with 15 fours.

At stumps on day two, Barbados Pride were 105-3 after 39 overs, trailing by 266 runs. In the Pride’s reply of 371 runs, they reached tea on 16-0. Despite an early chance created by Nial Smith, and Shamar Joseph striking Zachary McCaskie on his helmet, the openers negotiated well for Pride. Shayne Moseley was fluent in his off-side stroke-play, while McCaskie was rock solid.
Kevin Sinclair got one to go past McCaskie’s outside edge with the first ball he bowled, but the opener took the score past 50. Sinclair broke the opening stand, at 69-1 after 23.5 overs, when he removed McCaskie, caught at short mid-wicket for 26.

One run later, Permaul sent back Jonathan Drakes leg-before for a duck. Moseley reached his 12th First-Class fifty, but fell soon after to debutant Shamar Joseph. The 23-year-old Joseph who was bowling quick in the final hour, had Moseley caught at the wicket for 65. Moseley faced 107 balls and struck nine fours in a well-constructed innings.
At stumps, Brooks was unbeaten on 10 and nightwatchman Keon Harding was on three. Pride will resume on 105-3. Permaul had 1-18 in nine overs, Joseph had 1-20 in nine overs and Sinclair had 1-26 in eight overs.

Nandu exceeds a century
Resuming the second day on 205-5, Nandu and Kevin Sinclair piled on the runs. Sinclair got off to a bright start on the second morning, milking boundaries off spinner Chaim Holder. Set for a half-century, Sinclair followed a wide delivery and was caught behind by stand-in keeper Shamarh Brooks. He, however, contributed a 69-ball 43 in an innings decorated with eight fours.

After the 62-run partnership between Sinclair and Nandu, the veteran Veerasammy Permaul partnered Nandu, and the duo batted until lunch, taking the score to 283-6 in 105 overs. Nandu reached his maiden century in 295 balls, after punching pacer Akeem Jordan to the boundary. The little left-hander had struck 13 fours at that stage in his innings.
Permaul was solid on 23 at the interval, as he used the ploy of walking towards the Barbadian bowlers. Nandu, who was dropped on 40 on day one off the bowling of an unlucky Keon Harding, also survived some close calls by the umpires, especially to deliveries that went down the leg-side. However, the 19-year-old Nandu continued to display grit and determination in showcasing his sound technique to the handful of spectators.
Upon resumption of the second session, Guyana required 17 runs in five overs to gain extra batting points. The purposeful duo of Nandu and Permaul ensured that occurred as they went hunting quick runs. Permaul eventually fell for 37, after resisting for 92 balls and stroking six fours. Nandu and Permaul added 90 for the seventh wicket, the highest of the innings.
Nandu played some lovely square cuts and cover drives, but eventually chased a wide one and was caught behind for 126. His innings came off 337 balls, and he struck 15 fours while occupying the crease for 503 minutes. Nandu was the first Guyanese to score a First-Class century on debut since Sudesh Dhaniram in 1987.
Joseph, another debutant, looked capable with the bat as he scored a promising 20, including four boundaries. He was trapped leg-before by the off-spinner Chaim Holder, while Nial Smith was run out for nine when the Harpy Eagles innings ended on 371 in 121.1 overs. Barbados bowlers were sloppy, yielding 54 extras.
Jair McAllister was the pick of the bowlers with 3-43 in 18.1 overs, while the off-spinner Chaim Holder claimed 3-72 in 36 overs. The last five wickets for the Guyana Harpy Eagles produced 146 runs, after the top order, excluding Nandu, had failed to fire.
The third day is expected to bowl off at 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.
Summarized scores of West Indies Championships:
TTRF vs WIV: WIV 243 & 397/3 (108) Melius 192, Hodge 80, Athanaze 49*; Charles 2/92. TTRF 315 (92.1) Jangoo 86, Webster 79; John 5/18. Volcanoes lead by 325 runs.
LIH vs JS: LIH 260 (118.3) Louis 78*; Mindley 3/28, Mansingh 3/47. JS 186/6 (60) Lugg 79; Cornwall 3/47. Scorpions trail by 74 runs.