West Indies Championships: Motie’s 6-for fortifies Harpy Eagles on Day 1

A stellar six-wicket haul from Guyanese spinner Gudakesh Motie led the charge for defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles on Day 1 as the 2026 West Indies Championships Regional 4-Day tournament bowled off around the Caribbean on Sunday morning.
At the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana’s Captain Tevin Imlach, called right at the toss, and the Harpy Eagles bowled first against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Keemo Paul struck first for the Harpy Eagles during an early spell, as he removed Stephan Pascal for 6 runs in just the sixth over.
Opener Ackeem Auguste and the man in at number three, Kavem Hodge went on to form a 79-run partnership before Hodge was eventually caught behind off Niall Smith’s bowling for 31 from 76 deliveries.
As Keemo Paul claimed his second scalp, removing Alick Athanaze for a solitary run, Sunil Ambris pitched in another 30 off 36 balls, while Auguste spearheaded the Volcanoes’ resistance at the other end, approaching three figures.
The wicket of Ambris in the 47th over signalled the commencement of the Motie masterclass, as the West Indian spinner went on to devastate the Volcanoes’ middle order.
Motie claimed the next five wickets on the trot, including the prized scalp of Auguste, who was caught for 95 off 177 deliveries, in an innings that featured 12 boundaries.
Following that menacing Motie spell, Ryan John went on to frustrate the Guyanese bowlers, with a resilient knock of 42 off 80, thus, lifting the Windward Islands Volcanoes to a competitive 286 all-out in 86.1 overs.

Motie ended the innings with 6-73 from 23.1 overs while Paul picked up 2-27 from 13 overs. Niall Smith and Veerasammy Permaul had one scalp each.
As Guyana went in to bat late in the afternoon, Tagenarine Chanderpaul needed only to face up to six balls before stumps was called. As such, Guyana ended the day 2-0, in pursuit of 286.
Guyana’s XI for the first match featured Captain Imlach, Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Kevlon Anderson, Raymond Perez, Isai Thorne, Paul, Permaul, Smith and Motie.
Over in Chedwin Park, Spanish Town, Jamaica, Barbados Pride won the toss and opted to bat first. Buoyed by 153 off the bat of Kevin Wickham, the Barbados Pride set a 348 all-out first innings total. The hosts ended the day trailing by 331 with 10 wickets in hand. Meanwhile, at the Coolidge Cricket ground in Antigua, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force routed the Leeward Islands Hurricanes for 138 in 60.5 overs. By close of play, the Red Force were trailing by just 76, still with 10 wickets in hand.
Play is expected to resume at 10:00h today at the same venues.