WI 4-Day Championships 2023: Joseph’s maiden five-wicket haul leads Guyana fightback

By Brandon Corlette in Grenada

Twenty-three-year-old fast-bowler Shamar Joseph produced a fine display of energetic fast-bowling to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in his second game. Guyana Harpy Eagles ended day three of this second round of the West Indies Championships on 35-0, requiring another 259 runs on the final day.
Joseph’s 5-41 in 12 overs bundled out Volcanoes for 168 in their second innings, setting Guyana a target of 294 runs to win in four sessions. Opener Chandrapaul Hemraj was struck on the helmet and retired out for three. Tevin Imlach (13) and Matthew Nand (18) have since remained unbeaten when rain ended the day early.

Joseph bags magical five

After a rain delay on the third morning, play started at 11:15h. Ronsford Beaton produced a good delivery with the second ball of the day to remove Kaveem Hodge, caught at the wicket for 13. Ambris and Justin Greaves had a testing first hour from the seamers, but they left the ball nicely and played late.

The rain returned at the National Stadium in Grenada at 12:01h, when Volcanoes were 70-3, with a lead of 195 runs. Three minutes later play resumed, and the Volcanoes batsmen looked to score quickly after the lead had surpassed 200 runs.
Ambris was eventually caught at the wicket by Bramble for 26 off the lively Joseph.
Greaves took back-to-back boundaries off Joseph, who used the short-ball ploy. Guyana Harpy Eagles looked to attack with added fielders under the bat.
The Barbadian duo of Tevyn Walcott and Justin Greaves took the Volcanoes to lunch with the score on 96-4 after 32 overs, their team enjoying a lead of 221 runs.
Lunch certainly tasted great for the Guyanese, especially for Joseph. He found the edge of Greaves for 27, caught at the wicket by the steady Bramble. Two overs later, Joseph sent back Ryan John (01) and also claimed the wicket of the promising Walcott.

Volcanoes batsmen were looking to attack, and Imlach’s brilliant one-handed catch at second slip ensured Walcott departed for a shot-filled 23. Kimani Melius (06), who is suffering from a groin injury, came to bat late in the innings, and he, too, fell to the lively and impressive Joseph, leaving the score at 129-8.
Melius edged one to Bramble, who had, at this point, claimed his fifth catch in this second innings. The rain returned with Volcanoes on 131-8 in 44.3 overs, enjoying a lead of 256 runs.
After Joseph had bowled 12 overs on the trot, he was given a rest, and the fiery Beaton came and delivered heat rocks. Preston McSween looked to score quickly, but Beaton sent him back for 25.
After the 33-run stand ended for the ninth wicket, Permaul finally got his first wicket of the second innings, and fifth of the match, when he trapped Kenneth Dember for 15 to close Volcanoes’ innings on 168 in 56.3 overs.
Volcanoes had a lead of 293 runs, which meant Guyana Harpy Eagles required 294 runs in four sessions. Play will resume on day four today, from 9:30h, EC Time.