West Indies Championship: Harpy Eagles in cruise control after rain delays

After a rainy start, the Guyana Harpy Eagles’ spin trio bowled their team into a strong position, after which the batters took control of their fifth-round West Indies Championship contest with the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Thursday.

Similar to the start on day one, Kevin Sinclair was the first to strike on day two, castling Alick Athanaze – a wicket which sent him off somersaulting into his celebration of choice.

Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie later joined the party, to combine with Sinclair for nine wickets between the spinners. Permaul cleaned up the likes of Sunil Ambris and Shadrack Descarte while Motie went to work on the lower order.
For Windwards, Jeremy Solozano top-scored with 83 off 142 balls, followed by Athanaze with 39 off 71 balls and Ambris with 33 from 52 deliveries.
The experienced Permaul ended the innings with 4-55 from 16 overs, Motie 3-44 from 12.5 overs and Sinclair 2-54 from 17 overs to rout Windward Volcanoes for 213 in 61.5 overs at lunch on Thursday.

In the chase, Matthew Nandu fell early, trapped lbw by Kenneth Dember for eight runs. Both Raymond Perez and Kevlon Anderson got good starts, but were unable to press on for a milestone score.
Perez hit four boundaries in his 33 of 65 balls while Anderson added a brisk 21 off 32 deliveries to the Harpy Eagles’ tally.
The team’s leaders, in Captain Tevin Imlach and Vice Captain Kemol Savory, however, hunkered down and took their side safely to close of play without the loss of any more wickets.

Imlach is unbeaten on 40 off 70 deliveries while Savory will resume, on day three, from 46 off 78 balls, with both batsmen eyeing a half-century.
Dember, Darel Cyrus, and Gilon Tyson each claimed one wicket as the Harpy Eagles closed the day with 159-3 in 42 overs.
Play will continue at 10:00h today, Friday with day three action.