A composed innings from Guyana Harpy Eagle’s Veerasammy Permaul ensured Guyana Harpy Eagles defeated Windward Volcanoes in the opening round of the West Indies Championship at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad.
Yesterday, Volcanoes resumed on 157 for seven but were eventually bowled out for 190 in 63.1 overs, setting Harpy Eagles a target of 203 which they reached in 69.3 overs.
Harpy Eagles were off to a good start with Chandrapaul Hemraj racing to 60 from 72 balls before he was dismissed by off-spinner, Kenneth Dember. The Everest Cricket Club left-handed added 89 for the opening partnership with his clubmate, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who was caught and bowled by Dember for a 77-ball 28.
Dember also removed Shimron Hetmyer for nine while Leon Johnson was bowled by Preston McSween for the second time in the match for 21 from 44 balls as Harpy Eagles slipped to 124 for four.
Off-spinner Dember (5-80) then removed Anthony Bramble (7) and Keemo Paul (0) in the same over to leave Guyana 63 runs away from their target and four wickets in hand.
However, Vishaul Singh (24) and Clinton Pestano (20) moved Harpy Eagles closer to their target before both batsmen were dismissed by left-arm spinner, Larry Edward (3-11).
Edward placed Volcanoes on the verge of eruption with the wicket of Gudakesh Motie and Eagles 20 runs away from taking flight but Permaul persisted for 20 not out from 43 balls while Nial Smith resisted with an unbeaten 25-ball four to steer Guyana over the line.
Earlier, Edward converted his overnight score of 29 to 43 from 110 balls before Permaul removed him and Dember who move from nine to 14, breaking their 48-run stand for the eighth wicket. Permaul also removed McSween for 11 to end with 5-53, his 32nd five-wicket hall in first-class cricket.
