As the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional 4-Day Championship heads into its fourth round, the Guyana Harpy Eagles are set to face the Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park, Kingston, starting Wednesday, March 5. With the return of opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and a squad blending experience and emerging talent, the defending champions will be looking to maintain their position at the top of the table.
Reflecting on the first three rounds, Head Coach Ryan Hercules expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance while acknowledging areas that need improvement. “I think overall, we’ve had some decent performances. You could see we’ve gotten some good partnerships from both upper and lower-order batsmen,” he told Stabroek Sport.
The Eagles have enjoyed notable individual performances, with centuries from Tevin Imlach and Kevlon Anderson, a near-century (99) from Kemol Savory, and vital half-centuries from Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed, Matthew Nandu, and Gudakesh Motie. These contributions have helped the team build competitive totals, but Hercules is keen on achieving more consistency.
One key focus will be on the opening partnership, an area that has seen instability in previous matches. With Chanderpaul now back in the setup after missing the last round due to injury, Hercules believes the Eagles will have a stronger batting foundation. “We need to work on getting a balance in terms of our openers. A solid start is crucial to set the tone for the rest of the innings,” he said.
Shot selection has also been under scrutiny, particularly after some reckless dismissals in the last round against the CWI Academy. “Playing the situation is key. Stronger teams will take advantage of lapses in focus,” Hercules warned.
The Eagles’ bowling attack has been led by veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who continues to dominate and has now reached an impressive tally of 652 first-class wickets. “Permaul has been doing his part as a senior bowler,” Hercules acknowledged.
Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed has also impressed, making significant contributions with both bat and ball. “Hats off to Ronaldo. He has been bowling more overs and getting crucial wickets,” Hercules noted.
However, the fast-bowling department remains a concern, with injuries affecting key pacers. “Nial Smith is now getting back into his rhythm after missing time due to injury, while Isaiah Thorne is still recovering. Young Thaddeus Lovell had his first game but is still a work in progress,” he explained. Hercules emphasized the need for more patience and consistency from the fast bowlers, particularly in maintaining tight lines and lengths to reduce the economy rate.
The coach also highlighted fielding as an area requiring improvement, especially after a sloppy performance in the last match. “There were a few dropped catches in key moments, particularly behind the stumps and in the slip cordon. We need to sharpen up our fielding,” Hercules admitted. The team plans to work extensively on fielding drills before the next match.
Meanwhile, last evening, the Guyana Cricket Board announced a 13-man squad for the crucial fixture, with Tevin Imlach leading as captain and Kemol Savory as his deputy.
Full Squad:
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kevlon Anderson, Tevin Imlach (Captain), Kemol Savory (Vice Captain), Kevin Sinclair, Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Thaddeus Lovell, Richie Looknauth, Raymond Perez.
The team will be under the guidance of Head Coach Ryan Hercules, along with assistant coach Garvin Nedd, manager Albert Clements, physiotherapist Marvin, and strength and conditioning coach Jaryl Moore.
