Defending champion Guyana Harpy Eagles suffered a first-inning collapse after being bundled out for 188 as the Leeward Islands, led by left-arm spinner Daniel Doram, seized a mammoth lead to strengthen their grip on the encounter yesterday at Warner Park, St. Kitts and Nevis. In pursuit of the Hurricanes first-inning total of 352, the Guyanese conceded a first-inning lead of 174, a deficit that was further extended to 216 as the first-inning centurion. Mikyle Louis guided the Hurricanes to 52/1 at stumps, unbeaten on 37 alongside Keacy Carthy (1 not out).
Earlier in the day, Guyanese all-rounder Ronaldo Alimohamed was the only bright spark for his team, picking up his maiden five-wicket haul in only his second first-class outing.
Rahkeem Cornwall, the Hurricanes skipper, got to his half-century while Hayden Walsh Jr. produced some fireworks in an unbeaten 20, but after resuming day two on 299/6, their side added just 53 more runs.
Cornwall got to 54 before he was bowled by Alimohamed, while Colin Archibald (5) was dismissed via the same route by young fast bowler Isai Thorne. Alimohamed wrapped up the innings with his fifth wicket, having Doram caught as the Hurricanes finished on 352. Alimohamed returned figures of 5/69 (19.5 overs), while Neiland Cadogan, Veerasammy Permaul, Kevin Sinclair, Anthony Adams, and Isai Thorne picked up a wicket each.
In reply, the Harpy Eagles innings failed to take flight as test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s horror run of form continued, falling for an 11-ball duck, caught behind off the bowling of seamer Jeremiah Louis.
Raymond Perez, batting for the first time, although in his second first-class outing, looked aggressive for a quick-fire 18 that included four sweetly timed fours, but also fell caught behind Louis, who found a swing from the pitch.
New skipper Kevlon Anderson (10), Matthew Nandu (19), and Kemol Savoury (5) all fell in quick succession as the Hurricanes tore through the top order.
However, the lower order staged a vanguard of sorts as all-rounders Kevin Sinclair (29), Alimohamed (41), Veerasammy Permaul (34) and Anthony Adams (13) made valuable contributions, lifting the Harpy Eagles to their eventual first-inning total.
Doram accounted for Sinclair, Permaul, Adams, and Thorne to finish with figures of 4/40 (12.3 overs). Jeremiah Louis (3/42), Colin Archibald (1/45) and Cornwall (1/28) were the other wicket takers.
Batting for the second time, the Hurricanes lost Kofi James (14) who was caught off the bowling of Permaul before Louis and Carthy saw their side to stumps without further loss.
At Kensington Park in Kingston, Jamaica, Barbados Pride trail the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 39 runs with six wickets remaining in the second inning. Pride, who made 214 in the first inning, sits at 72/4. The volcanoes recorded 325 on their first outing.
Over at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, the home side, the Jamaica Scorpions, trail the Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners by 48 runs with four first-inning wickets remaining.
The Scorpions unit sits on 259/6, led by a 163 from the experienced Chadwick Walton. The Marooners, in their first inning, tallied 307.
Meanwhile, at the Conaree Cricket Centre in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Academy trail Trinidad and Tobago Red Forde by 82 runs with seven second-inning wickets remaining.
CWI Academy, who were bundled out for 163 in the first inning, are 84/3, with Mbeki Joseph undefeated on 34. Red Force in their first inning accumulated 329.
