The Windward Islands Volcanoes opened up their 2024 CG United Super50 Cup campaign with an improbable one-wicket win over the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday.

The Harpy Eagles, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, posted a respectable 274-5 from their 50 overs thanks to half centuries from captain Tevin Imlach and Keemo Paul.

Imlach led the way with an unbeaten 67-ball 65 including five fours and a six while Paul batted through to the end alongside his skipper to finish 54* off just 25 balls, hitting one four and six sixes.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kevlon Anderson also provided excellent contributions with 49 and 42, respectively, against 2-53 off eight overs from Shadrack Descarte.

The Windwards then, after finding themselves struggling at 58-5 in the 12^th over, pulled off an improbable chase, reaching 277-9 with three balls to spare in the end.

The major catalysts for the successful chase were Descarte and wicketkeeper Dillon Douglas, playing only his second List A game.

The pair added a crucial 81 runs for the sixth wicket before Descarte fell in the 26^th over for a well-played 60 off 62 balls including seven fours and a six.

After the fall of that wicket, Douglas continued on, eventually falling for a top score of 90 from 100 balls in the 43^rd over with the score on 223.

Douglas hit eight fours and two sixes in his excellent knock.

Darel Cyrus, batting at nine, contributed a crucial 29 alongside Douglas but fell with just over four overs left with the Volcanoes needing a further 30 runs for victory.

Those runs proved no problem for final pair Kenneth Dember and Gilon Tyson who batted brilliantly to lead the Volcanoes to an improbable victory.

Dember finished 20* off 18 balls while Tyson made 17* off 13 balls.

Pacer Nial Smith took 3-46 off 9.4 overs while Kevin Sinclair took 2-66 off his 10 overs.

The Harpy Eagles will next face CCC at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground on October 31 while the Windwards Volcanoes will face the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on November 1.

Full Scores:

Guyana Harpy Eagles 274-5 off 50 overs (Tevin Imlach 65*, Keemo Paul 54*, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 49, Kevlon Anderson 42, Shadrack Descarte 2-53)

Windward Islands Volcanoes 277-9 off 49.3 overs (Dillon Douglas 90, Shadrack Descarte 60, Nial Smith 3-46, Kevin Sinclair 2-66).