West Indies Championship: GHE, Windies Academy settle for rain-affected draw
…Permaul surpasses 650 milestone
Kevin Sinclair entertained in his quickfire innings
A Veerasammy Permaul six-for was the highlight of yet another rain-affected day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) as the Guyana Harpy Eagles and West Indies Academy had to settle for a draw in their third-round West Indies Championship 2025 clash.
The Academy resumed day four on Saturday on 123-4, with Permaul already claiming three of his eventual six wickets.
Veerasammy Permaul picked up six wickets to go past 650 First-Class wickets in his illustrious career
The Harpy Eagles were met with resistance from the likes of Rivaldo Clarke and Joshua Bishop, who both slammed half-centuries. Clarke hit an entertaining 50 off 81 deliveries before Nial Smith rained on his parade, while Bishop slammed 54 in 57 balls, laced with nine fours and one six. Mavendra Dindyal backed up with 32 as did Zishan Motara, who contributed 22, taking the West Indies Academy hauntingly close to securing first innings points.
Jediah Blades takes the catch that dismissed Kevlon Anderson as his teammate celebrates
However, experience trumped the youngsters’ enthusiasm as Permaul cleaned up Dindyal, Johann Layne and McKenny Clarke to rout the Academy for 249 in 83.2 overs; more importantly four runs short of the Harpy Eagles’ first innings score, thus resulting in those points going to the hosts.
Permaul ended with 6-75 from 29 overs, alongside Gudakesh Motie and Nial Smith, who both claimed two scalps.
The heavens opened at that point, forcing another lengthy delay to the match and any thought of eking out a result that either side might have had.
When the Harpy Eagles finally came back out to bat under the lights, the Academy pacers got good offer from the pink ball. When that was coupled with some disastrous shots from the Harpy Eagles’ top order, the hosts found themselves four down in quick time.
Johann Layne takes off in celebration after claiming two wickets in an over
Both openers, Raymond Perez and Matthew Nandu, departed for ducks while Kevlon Anderson added four runs to the total. After Kemol Savory was forced to retire hurt, the pair of Captain Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair looked good at the crease.
Sinclair especially brought the entertainment, finding the boundary four times in his 24 off 14 balls, but a rash shot off Rivaldo Clarke’s bowling sent him back to the dugout.
Eventually, both teams agreed to the draw, with the Harpy Eagles getting to 44-4 in 8 overs. Layne picked up 2-6 from two overs while Jediah Blades and Clarke had one wicket apiece.
The West Indies Championship will take a break and resume on Wednesday, March 5 when the Harpy Eagles will take on the Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica in Round 4.
