Cornwall bags 4-27 as Harpy Eagles fall for 122
Hurricanes lead by 11

By Sean Devers
Watched by a small gathering yesterday at Providence, Guyana Harpy Eagles were bowled out for a paltry 122 by the Leewards Hurricanes in the final round of the West Indies Championships and, by stumps, the visitors were 133-5 on a day in which 15 wickets fell.

Kieran Powell top scored with 39 from 75 balls and 102 minutes and shared in a 69-run second wicket stand with Keacy Carty who made 22 with four fours.

Jahmal Hamilton on 35 with five fours and Kofi James on 9 are the overnight batters with the Leewards enjoying a slim lead of 11 runs. Veerasammy Permaul has two wickets so far.

Guyana’s biggest worry this season has been the inconsistency of their top order but yesterday in sweltering heat and on track with a tinge of green and a fast outfield, only Matthew Nandu, who reached the ropes four time in 22 and Kevlon Anderson, who stroked three boundaries in his 16 got past 12.

The 30-year-old Rakeem Cornwall, with 34 wickets in nine Tests and two 10-wicket match hauls in this tournament, is arguable the best off-spinner in the region and yesterday he again showed why he is regarded so highly by many by grabbing 4-27

The Leewards pace trio, Javier Spencer (2-35), Coin Archibald (2-27) and Jeremiah Louis (1-25), supported the burly Cornwall and provided their team with 2.5 fast bowling points while leaders, Guyana, failed to add a single point with the bat to their 68.2 points.

It would be nice if the school children from the East Bank schools can be brought to the Stadium today and tomorrow to help urge Guyana to a 13th Title and sixth in eight tournaments since the Franchise format was introduced in 2014.

Guyana won the toss and opted to bat but kept losing wickets at regular intervals after Nandu and Tagenarine Chanderpaul added 32.

Chanderpaul (12) edged one that left him to the Keeper as Archibald made the break-through.

Cornwall removed Nandu, who has not made a ‘big’ score since his debut ton in February and Guyana were 41-2. The Everest left-hander again flattered to deceive with a couple of imperious cover drives off Spencer.

Savory, one of four batters with centuries this season, lacked consistency and was caught behind off Louis for four at 58-3 before Anderson, who hit Cornwall for a glorious cover boundary when the Antiguan bowled was short and caressed him through the covers when he over-pitched, was caught at short-leg as Cornwall got one to bounce and turn at 62-4.

Johnson, who scored his seventh century of his 20-year First Class career in the previous game, was removed by Cornwall for eight and a run later, Tevin Imlach, another Guyanese batter with a hundred this season, was lbw to Spencer for four and Guyana were 86-6.
Spencer struck again when Permaul (2) was bowled at 90-7 before Sinclair (12) swept Cornwall to square-leg at 112-8.
Anthony Adams, making his First-Class debut after travelling with the squad on several occasions, got his first runs at this level by flicking Louis for four off the first ball he faced.
But the last two wickets fell at 122 after Shamar Joseph (6) was run out and Nial Smith fell to Archibald for a duck leaving Adams undefeated on 12 with two fours.

When the Leewards began their reply, Larry Audain (0) was LBW to Smith at 4-1 and at Tea the score was 9-1
After the break, Kieran Powell and Keacy Carty batted positively but when Sinclair removed Powell at 73-2 the Leewards lost three wickets for 12 runs as Permaul removed Carty and Devon Smith (2) to leave the Leewards on 85-4.

The 100 was posted in 33.3 overs. Soon after, Adams got his first wicket at this level when he removed Kavima Gore (10), brilliantly taken at slip by Johnson.
Hamilton and James saw their team to the close.

Guyana made two forced changes to the team which beat Jamaica last week; bringing in Joseph for Ronsford Beaton (who has been banned for an illegal action) and Adams for Gudakesh Motie due to a back injury he sustained in South Africa.

Today is the second day and the Guyana supporters would be paying close attention to the match between second placed Windwards (58 points) and third placed two-time defending champions, Barbados.

At the end of day one in Trinidad, Windwards made 237 while Barbados are 5-0.

Scoreboard
Guy 1st inns
Matthew Nandu c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 22
Tagenarine Chanderpaul c wkp Hamilton b Archibald 12
Kevlon Anderson c Audain b Cornwall 16
Kemol Savory c wkp Hamilton Louis 4
Leon Johnson c James b Cornwall 8
Tevin Imlach lbw b Spencer 6
Kevin Sinclair c Carty b Cornwall 12
Veerasammy Permaul b Spencer 2
Antony Adams not out 12
Shamar Joseph run out 6
Nial Smith c Louis b Archibald 0
Extras 22 (b-6, lb-2, nb-14)
Total 122 all out in 44.1 overs
FoW: 32, 41 58, 62, 85,86, 90, 112, 122, 122

Bowling:
Louis 7-1-25-1, Spencer 11-1-35-2,
Archibald 9.1-3-27-2, Cornwall 17-6-27-4
L/Wards 1st Inns
Kieran Powell c Chanderpaul b Sinclair 39
Larry Audain lbw b Smith 0
Keacy Carty lbw b Permaul 23
Devon Thomas c (sub) Cameron b Permaul 2
Jahmar Hamilton not out 35
Kavima Gore c Johnson b Adams 10
Kofi James not out 9
Extras 15 (b-2, nb-13)
Total 133-5
FoW: 4, 73, 74, 85, 105

Bowling:
Smith 7-0-12-1, Joseph 8-1-36-0,
Sinclair 8-1-24-1, Permaul 12-2-31-2,
Adams 8-2-28-1