The opening day of the Guyana Harpy Eagles’ three-day practice match between Keemo Paul’s XI and Leon Johnson’s XI was dominated by the bowlers yesterday at Everest Cricket Club ground.
Paul’s XI won the toss and batted, posting 177 all out in 72 overs.
Johnson’s XI, in reply, closed the day at 18 for three after seven overs.
After a 45-minute delay to the first session due to rain, opening bowlers, Keon Joseph and Clinton Pestano unsettled Paul XI’s opening pair of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Nandu with a barrage of short pitched deliveries.
Nandu, however, got loose by hitting 22-year-old pacer, Shemar Joseph for consecutive boundaries, one cut through point and the other pulled through mid-wicket but a leading edge off of a Demitri Cameron delivery, ended his stay, the ball going high up into the air but not clearing the non-striker’s wicket and Shemar Joseph settled under it to end the former West Indies under-19 captain’s innings of 17 from 36 balls.
Cameron, shortly afterwards removed Chanderpaul for a 78-ball 21, caught at second slip. Tevin Imlach was also undone by a short ball as Paul’s XI lunched at 57 for three.
The after-lunch session belonged to Akshaya Persaud who frustrated the bowlers during his 85-ball innings. Persaud struck three boundaries after being dropped on 13, by Gudakesh Motie off of his own bowling.
He eventually departed in similar fashion off of Kevin Sinclair for a top score of 35.
Persaud added 49 runs for the fourth wicket with Kevlon Anderson who made 19 from 53-balls before being removed by Clinton Pestano.
Kemol Savory also got a good start but was trapped leg before wicket by leg-spinner, Steven Sankar for 23 on the stroke of tea with his side 153 for five.
Sinclair returned to remove Junior Sinclair (18) and Paul (1) to end with 3-28. Cameron and Sankar picked up two wickets each for 14 and 38 runs respectively.
Ronsford Beaton was spot on from the first ball trapping Trevon Griffith leg before wicket and then dismissing Chandrapaul Hemraj (11) who held out to Savory at mid-wicket to end with 2-8.
Chanderpaul pulled off a superb catch at short third man off of Sylus Tyndall to remove Mavindra Dindyal.
Veterans, Leon Joseph and Vishaul Singh are currently at the crease each on three. The match resumes today at 09.30 hours.
