Two of the brightest young batting prospects in the region Matthew Nandu and Kimani Melius will take centre stage when table toppers, the Guyana Harpy Eagles, take on the Windward Islands Volcanoes from today in St. George’s, Grenada as round two of the West Indies four-day championships gets underway.
Melius and Nandu are former West Indies U19 players who also open the batting. They each scored a century in the first round of the tournament with Melius slamming 192 against the Jamaica Scorpions and Nandu 126 against the Barbados Pride.
Eagles are soaring above the competition on 20 points after a massive win over defending champions, Barbados Pride while Volcanoes sit third on 8.4 points following their drawn encounter against Jamaica Scorpions. Both teams remain unchanged in this round.
While the Guyanese bowlers were able to bundle out Pride for 94, their hands will be filled with the in-form Melius at the top of the Volcanoes batting order. The 22-year-old St. Lucian erupted with a massive ton, his first at this level, and the support staff chalked up landmarks including Sunil Ambris who struck back-to-back fifties, Tevyn Walott (87 not out), Kaveem Hodge (80) and Alick Athanaze (51).
Eagles will no doubt bring their `A’ game in an attempt to remain at the top of the standings and will look to bowlers Nial Smith and Veerasammy Permaul to help dismiss or restrict the opposing batsmen.
Smith has already shown form after returning 5-31 in Pride second innings while Permaul comes to the table with over 500 first-class wickets under his belt.
The Harpy Eagles batsmen, Nandu apart, have not stood up as yet. Kevin Sinclair made 43 while Permaul scored 37 and 33.
The experienced captain, Leon Johnson and Anthony Bramble will be under pressure to deliver while a lot will be on the shoulders of Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach and Kemol Savory at the top of the order in the absence of Vishaul Singh and Tagenarine Chanderpaul.
The only other batting option on the bench for Eagles is Akshaya Persaud and it would be interesting to see if they bring him into the playing XI.
In the other contests, Scorpions and Pride will both aim to get a win under their belts and stay in contention for the title at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua while Leeward Islands Hurricanes will be aiming to blow away Trinbago Red Force at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Guyana Harpy Eagles: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmead Nedd, Shamar Joseph; Ryan Hercules (Head Coach)
Barbados Pride: Shane Dowrich (Captain) Camarie Boyce, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Drakes, Keon Harding, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Jair McAllister, Shayne Moseley, Zachary McCaskie, Shamar Springer, Kevin Wickham; Vasbert Drakes (Head Coach)
Jamaica Scorpions: Paul Palmer jr (Captain), Jamie Merchant, Tevin Gilzene, Aldaine Thomas, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Romaine Morris, Abhijai Mansingh, Patrick Harty, Akim Fraser, Marquino Mindley, Gordon Bryan, Ojay Shields; Andrew Richardson (Head Coach)
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force: Darren Bravo (Captain), Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Terrance Hinds, Jyd Goolie, Jeremy Solozano, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Keegan Simmons, Uthman Muhammad, Tion Webster, Khary Pierre; David Furlonge (Head Coach)
Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Jahmar Hamilton (Captain), Mikyle Louis, Kieran Powell, Colin Archibald, Terance Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Keacy Carty, Montcin Hodge, Kofi James, Damion Williams, Sheeno Berridge, Hayden Walsh jr., Rahkeem Cornwall; Stuart Williams (Head Coach).
Windward Islands Volcanoes squad: Alick Athanaze (Captain), Jerlani Robinson, Kavem Hodge, Keron Cottoy, Sunil Ambris, Justin Greaves, Tevyn Walcott, Kenneth Dember, Preston McSween, Teddy Bishop, Daurius Martin, Kimani Melius, Ryan John; Shirley Clarke (Head Coach)