Guyana Harpy Eagles are firmly in control of their third-round clash in the West Indies Championship heading into the final day with Barbados Pride trailing by 180 runs after being asked to bat again.
At Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad, Pride resumed their first innings on 48 for two but were bowled out for 266 in 84.4 overs, responding to Harpy Eagles’ 490 for seven declared. Pride, the current champions closed day three on 44 without loss after 19 overs.
Shai Hope, who was yet to get off the mark at the start of the day, struck his ninth first-class century, hitting 119 from 200 balls with his innings featuring 13 fours and two sixes.
The 28-year-old after getting off the mark with a single, lost his overnight partner in Shayne Moseley who failed to add to his previous day’s tally of 17 as he was bowled by Keemo Paul.
Hope shared a short-live 26-run stand with Roston Chase but it was an 89-run fifth wicket partnership between the right hander and former Guyana player, Raymon Reifer that revived Pride’s innings and saw them to lunch on 147 for four, still 343 runs behind and 143 runs away from avoiding the follow-on.
Reifer faced 80 deliveries and struck four boundaries but was run out for 29. Jonathan Carter made six before handing Demetri Cameron his maiden first class wicket in his debut match after edging a low catch to Tevin Imlach behind the stumps.
When Shane Dowrich joined Hope at the crease, and the pair carried Pride to 237 for six by tea, with Hope just crossing into triple figures.
The pair of wicketkeepers put on 64 for the seventh wicket however, veteran left-arm spinner bagged his fourth wicket two overs after the Tea break with Dowrich leading a catch to Leon Johnson in first slip who held on to it after a few juggles diving to his left for 44 from 60 balls. Dowrich had carved five fours and two sixes during his knock.
Permaul’s left-arm spin twin and Albion Cricket Club teammate, Gudakesh Motie, who notched up his maiden first-class century the previous day, removed both Akeem Joran and Keon Harding cheaply as he ended with 2-37. Permaul picked up his 33rd four-wicket haul after ending with 4-81 while Paul returned 2-43.
In Pride’s second innings, Brathwaite was fortunate to survive an attempted catch by Tagenarine Chanderpaul at leg slip off of Nial Smith while on 11. He eventually saw out the day to reach 17 not out from 50 balls. Moseley at the other end is on 25 not out from 65 balls.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Scorpions completed an innings and 14-run win over Windwards Islands Volcanoes after scoring 346 and bowling them out for 137 and 195. Derval Green returned 5-46 and Jamie Merchant took 5-72 for Scorpions. Kavem Hodge top scored for Volcanoes with 63 from 147 before being bowled by Green.
In the third fixture, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force need a further 316 runs with four wickets in hand if they are to beat Leeward Islands Hurricanes. Red Force, who were bowled out for 140 in their first innings are 143 for six, responding to Hurricanes’ 357 and 241 for seven declared. Jeremiah Louis picked up 3-26 for Hurricanes while Rahkeem Cornwall took 2-13 for Hurricanes. Yannic Carriah is currently on 36 not out.