CWI Regional 4-Day Championship
By Michaelangelo Jacobus
The third-round clash between the Guyana Harpy Eagles and West Indies Academy (WI-A) finally resumed yesterday at the National Stadium, Providence, after rain washed out most of the first day and the entire second day. However, day three provided some much-needed action, headlined by crucial half-centuries from Gudakesh Motie and Ronaldo Alimohamed in the face of a disciplined bowling effort from the WI-A attack.
Resuming their innings on 87/4, the Harpy Eagles were hoping for stability from overnight batters Kevin Sinclair (8 not out) and Kemol Savory (20 not out). They added 42 runs to the overnight total and looked settled before an unfortunate mix-up led to Savory’s run out for a patient 39 (86 balls, 5x4s). His attempted single to short long-on turned disastrous when Sinclair, perhaps a bit guilty of ball watching, turned his back at the non-striker’s end, leaving Savory stranded and run out by Zishan Motara’s direct hit.
Sinclair didn’t last much longer, as he too fell victim to a run out, departing for 29 (38 balls, 3x4s), courtesy of a sharp throw from Akeeme Auguste.
At 130/6 in the 38th over, Guyana found themselves in danger of falling well short of a competitive total. However, an impressive counter-attacking partnership between Alimohamed and Motie rescued the innings. The duo put together a rapid 112-run stand for the seventh wicket, with Alimohamed playing the aggressor, smashing four sixes in his entertaining knock of 66 (71 balls, 5x4s, 4x6s), while Motie played a measured innings, bringing up his fourth first-class half-century with 52 (74 balls, 5x4s, 1×6).
Alimohamed was eventually dismissed at the start of the 58th over, caught by Teddy Bishop off Motara. The lower order failed to offer much resistance, with Veerasammy Permaul and Nial Smith making just two runs each before falling in quick succession. Motie was the last to go, caught off Motara’s bowling, as the Harpy Eagles were bowled out for 253 in 63.1 overs.
WI-A’s bowling effort was led by Jediah Blades, who impressed with figures of 4/37 from 15 overs, while Motara chipped in with 3/37 from 7.1 overs.
In response, WI-A openers Auguste and Justin Jaggesar made a steady start, reaching 43 without loss by tea. However, their partnership was not without drama, as Auguste was given a reprieve when Permaul put down a straightforward catch off the bowling of part-timer Kevlon Anderson when the batter was on 30.
After the break, Guyana finally got their breakthrough as Nial Smith produced an in-swinging delivery to clean bowl Jaggesar for 17 at the end of the 24th over. That sparked a mini-collapse, as captain Teddy Bishop departed for a first-ball duck, caught by Anderson off Permaul’s bowling. Auguste, who had looked set for a half-century, was eventually stumped off Permaul for 43 (73 balls, 7x4s), and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (11) soon followed, trapped LBW to Permaul, leaving WI-A in trouble at 113/4.
Rivaldo Clarke provided some stability with an attacking unbeaten 43 (56 balls, 7x4s), while Mavindra Dindyal (5 not out, 27 balls) helped WI-A reach 123/4 after 44.3 overs before rain interrupted play at 7:45 pm, bringing an early end to the day’s action. Permaul leads the way for the Guyanese bowlers with 3/38 (15.3 overs) while Niall Smith (1/39, 10 overs) was the other bowler on target.
With WI-A still 130 runs behind Guyana’s first-innings total, an outright result seems unlikely given the time lost to rain. However, the defending champions will be eager to take the remaining WI-A wickets swiftly to secure crucial first-innings points. Play is set to resume at 1 pm today, and if the weather holds up, an intriguing final day could be on the cards.
