Former West Indies Under-19 opener Matthew Nandu struck 126 on debut as the Guyana Harpy Eagles ended day two of their West Indies Championship match against the Barbados Pride at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in a strong position.
The Harpy Eagles started day two on 205-5 with Nandu (70) and Kevin Sinclair (28) at the crease.
The pair added 25 runs to the overnight score before Sinclair was dismissed for 43 in the 85th over, bringing Vice-Captain Veerasammy Permaul to the crease to join Nandu.
The pair continued to fight off the Barbados bowling, reaching 273-6 in the 102nd over when Nandu, who represented the West Indies at the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies, brought up his maiden first class 100 off 295 balls.
The partnership reached 90 when Permaul was dismissed by Keon Harding for 37 off 95 balls in the 112th over with the score on 315.
Nandu was next to go in the 118th over, eventually falling for a marathon 126 off 335 balls after putting on a further 39 runs with Shamar Joseph.
Joseph (20) and Nial Smith (9) were the final two to fall as Guyana made an impressive 371 off 121 overs.
Pacer Jair McAllister took 3-43 off 18.1 overs while spinner Chaim Holder took 3-72 off 36 overs.
In reply, Barbados openers Zachary McCaskie and Sheyne Moseley put on 69 before McCaskie was dismissed by Kevin Sinclair in the 24th over for 26.
Jonathan Drakes joined Moseley at the crease but didn’t last long as he became Permaul’s first victim for a duck.
Moseley brought up his fifty off 86 balls in the 29th over.
Moseley and Shamarh Brooks put on a 32-run third wicket partnership to bring the score up to 102 before Moseley went off the bowling of Shamar Joseph for 65.
The Pride ended the day 105-3 with Brooks on 10 and Keon Harding on three. They trail the Harpy Eagles by 266 runs.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 371 off 121.1 overs (Matthew Nandu 126, Kevin Sinclair 43, Veerasammy Permaul 37, Jair McAllister 3-43, Chaim Holder 3-72) Barbados Pride 105-3 off 39 overs (Sheyne Moseley 65, Zachary McCaskie 26)