West Indies Championships: Jamaica fighting back, but GHE need 7 wickets for victory
Chasing a mammoth total set by the visiting Guyana Harpy Eagles in their fourth-round West Indies Championships’ clash on Friday at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, the Jamaica Scorpions have showed some resistance on day three, after being bowled out cheaply on Thursday afternoon.
Kirk McKenzie showed some resistance with a century
The visiting Guyana Harpy Eagles had resumed the day on 68-1; and building on their first innings’ score, opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul treated Sabina Park to a classy half-century as he slammed 74 in 172 deliveries, embellishing that figure with 3 fours and one six. Kevlon Anderson later followed up his first innings’ century with 50 off 85 balls before Guyana declared on 193-3 off 69.3 overs.
Captain Marquino Mindley, Odean Smith and Brad Barnes each claimed one wicket for the Scorpions.
Combined with their first innings’ score, the Harpy Eagles left the hosts a 489- run target for victory; and
just when it appeared as though Jamaica would crumble under Guyana’s pace again – with Odain McCatty returning to the dugout for 5 – Kirk McKenzie stamped his authority on the game with a few lusty blows to the boundary. With the help of Brandon King, he built a solid 132-run second-wicket partnership which frustrated the Harpy Eagles bowlers late in the afternoon.
Kevlon Anderson added a half-century to his first innings 100
Eventually, Ronaldo Alimohamed struck again in removing Brandon King for 53 off 110 deliveries, and
Gudakesh Motie found favour almost immediately thereafter in sending Jermaine Blackwood back to the dugout for a duck.
However, the Harpy Eagles bowlers’ ability to find their rhythm did not stop McKenzie from reaching his century. He ended the day unbeaten on 104 from 147 balls, while Javelle Glen was at the other end on 5 from 23.
Close of play caught Jamaica at 179-3, needing a further 310 runs for victory.
On the other hand, the Harpy Eagles would need 7 wickets to seal the win. The four- day action resumes at 11:00hrs local time today for the final day’s play.
