An intriguing contest is brewing between the Guyana Harpy Eagles and the Windward Islands Volcanoes after an action-filled second day of their fifth-round West Indies Championship clash at Providence on Thursday.
The Volcanoes, who resumed on 77-2 after a rain-affected first day, were bowled out for 213, as opener Jeremy Solozano anchored the innings with a well-crafted 83. In reply, the Harpy Eagles closed at 159-3, trailing by just 54 runs, with captain Tevin Imlach unbeaten on 40 and Kemol Savory approaching his half-century on 46.
Earlier, Solozano, who started the day on 43, continued his patient knock and brought up his half-century early in the session. Alongside captain Alick Athanaze, the pair extended their overnight third-wicket partnership to 68 before Kevin Sinclair struck, as he bowled Athanaze for 39.
Undeterred, Solozano found support from Sunil Ambris as they added another 43 runs. Solozano’s marathon innings, which had 10 boundaries, came to an end when he edged Gudakesh Motie behind, with the score at 168-4.
The middle and lower order struggled to build partnerships, with Shadrack Descarte showing brief intent as he struck three boundaries in a quick 15 before being trapped in front by Veerasammy Permaul. Ambris followed soon after, trapped in front by Permaul for a 52-ball 33, and the innings quickly unraveled from 200-6.
Motie and Permaul tore through the tail, as they shared seven wickets between them. Motie claimed 3-44, including a sharp return catch to dismiss Gian Benjamin (nine), and he also had Darel Cyrus (four) trapped in front, while Permaul, who had 4-55, wrapped up the innings with the scalp of Ryan John (one) and Kenneth Dember (zero).
Sinclair chipped in with 2-54.
In response, Guyana’s innings got off to a shaky start when Matthew Nandu fell for eight, bowled by Kenneth Dember with the score at just nine. Raymond Perez and Kevlon Anderson steadied things with a 52-run partnership before Anderson was castled by Darel Cyrus for 21. Perez followed shortly after for 33 when he edged behind off Gilon Tyson to leave Harpy Eagles at 74-3.
From there, Imlach and Savory took control and frustrated the Volcanoes bowlers with a composed and patient stand worth 85 runs so far, as both looked solid and well set to push their team to a competitive first innings total when play resumes on Friday.