Captain Tevin Imlach’s composed century and a devastating display from the spinners propelled Guyana Harpy Eagles to a commanding 10-wicket victory over Windward Islands Volcanoes inside three days in their fifth-round West Indies Championship clash at Providence on Friday.
Resuming the day on 159-3 in response to the Volcanoes’ first-innings total of 213, the Harpy Eagles piled on 324, thanks to Imlach’s masterful 113 off 201 balls, which included eight boundaries. It was his second century of the campaign and the eighth of his first-class career.
Faced with a daunting 111-run deficit, the Volcanoes crumbled for 135 in their second innings as the spin duo of Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul wreaked havoc. Motie claimed 6-38, while Permaul grabbed 3-46, leaving the Harpy Eagles with a paltry target of 24, which openers Raymond Perez and Matthew Nandu chased down with ease, sealing their fourth win of the season.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 213 & 135; Guyana Harpy Eagles 324 & 28-0
Imlach, who resumed on 40, orchestrated an innings that was a lesson in patience and resilience, as he navigated the morning session with calm authority. His overnight partner, Kemol Savory, added just three runs to his score before falling agonizingly short of a half-century for 49.
Kevin Sinclair joined Imlach and contributed a brisk 26-ball 20 before being dismissed by Kenneth Dember. The middle order wobbled slightly as Kemo Paul fell without scoring, but Imlach held firm. He found crucial support in Ronaldo Alimohamed, who also added a quick-fire 20 off 25 balls, and later Motie, whose 32 off 35 balls injected momentum into the innings.
Imlach’s hundred was a captain’s knock and a steadying hand amid the flurry of wickets. He eventually fell as the last man out, caught off Gilon Tyson, but by then, the damage had been done.
Tyson (3-51), Dember (3-92), and Darel Cyrus (3-82) were the pick of the Volcanoes bowlers.
With a mountain to climb, the Volcanoes needed a solid start, and openers Jeremy Solozano (17) and Stephan Pascal (22) provided a glimmer of hope with a 43-run partnership. But once Motie trapped Solozano in front and Alimohamed removed Pascal shortly after, the collapse began.
Kavem Hodge offered the only real resistance with a fighting 40 off 70 balls, sharing a 45-run stand with captain Alick Athanaze (18), but the spinners soon took control. Motie and Permaul ran riot through the middle and lower order, as they shared nine wickets between them to wrap up the innings swiftly.
Motie claimed the key wickets of Sunil Ambris (six), Shadrack Descarte (12), and Ryan John (five), while Permaul dismissed Gian Benjamin (five) and Dember (two) to signal the writing on the wall for the Volcanoes.
With just 24 runs needed for victory, Perez (10 not out) and Nandu (18 not out) wasted no time, as they raced to the target in just 4.3 overs.
The result pushed Harpy Eagles back to the top of the standings with 102.6 points, just ahead of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on 101 points. The Volcanoes, meanwhile, remain fifth on 45.8 points.