By Sean Devers
THE 2023 West Indies Championship climaxed in a festive and celebratory atmosphere yesterday at the Providence Stadium with Guyana Harpy Eagles clawing their way back from the jaws of defeat to snatch an incredible 17-run victory over the Leewards Hurricanes, who lost their last nine wickets for 29 runs to give Guyana their 13th l title and Leon Johnson his sixth as captain.

Guyana’s stunning win was orchestrated by career best figures of 6-33 from off-spinner, Kevin Sinclair, while left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul (3-43) and Antony Adams (1-3) supported.

Kieran Powell hit seven boundaries in his 105-ball 61, while his overnight partner, Keacy Carty (21) was the other batter to get into the teens as the Hurricanes dramatically collapsed to a shocking defeat after being in the ascendency for all of the match until yesterday’s horrendous batting display.

Scores: Guyana 122 & 267, Leewards 247 & 125.

The final day began with the Islanders needing 62 to win with Powell well set on 47. The 33-year-old from Nevis soon reached his 42nd fifty and at 96-1 the Islanders seemed to be coasting to victory.

But the Guyana’s spin trio were not going to make the small run chase an easy task in good conditions on a track with no devils in it as the last nine Hurricanes batters were blown away in a colossal collapse to give the Guyanese a memorable win at 10:50 hrs.

It all began when Guyana’s bowling hero yesterday, the 23-year-old Sinclair, trapped overnight batter Carty lbw for 21 at 96-2 before trapping Devon Thomas lbw without addition to the score while Permaul bowled Hamilton (0) to leave the score on 108-4.

Berbican Sinclair had Karima Gore (1) lbw at 109-5 and when Permaul got rid of Powell at 115-6, the Leewards’ panic button was activated to the unadulterated joy of the less than 50 raucous fans in the Green stand, but their noise level sounded as if there was a capacity crowd present.

Permaul bowled Jerimiah Louis (1) while Antony Adams dismissed Kofi James (6) at 121-8 before Sinclair had Colin Archibald for a duck at 125-9.

The Tassa drummers and Congo drummers merged to exemplify the sound of ‘One Guyana’ and despite the crowd being small, the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic.

When Sinclair had Javier Spencer lbw for a duck, the final nail was firmly in the coffin as Sinclair completed his trade-mark double back flick before pandemonium broke out as Guyana team’s backroom staff and a group of , led by Norman the ‘Juice Man’ rushed on to the field to congratulate their conquering heroes.

Johnson, the region’s most successful captain with six titles, five of them in consecutive tournaments from 2015, went around the boundary in his farewell match, to thank his fans for the support during his twenty years playing at this level.

Johnson was presented with a plaque by the President of the GCB and Director of CWI, Bissoondyal Singh, while former Guyana player and owner of Jacobs Jewelleries, Steven Jacobs, presented Johnson and Permaul, the regions’ leading first-class wicket-taker, with gold pendants for their achievements.

An emotional Johnson, who was afforded a bat arch to walk through, thanked his team for the farewell win and another title while promising that despite him being now retired from First-Class cricket, he wants to remain in the sport to help the young players in their developmental process.

Scoreboard
Leewards 2nd inns O/N 81-1
Kerion Powell c Anderson b Permaul 61
Keacy Carty lbw b Sinclair 21
Devon Thomas lbw b Sinclair 0
Jahmal Hamilton b Permaul 1
Karima Gore lbw b Sinclair 0
Kofi James b Adams 6
Rakeem Cornwall b Permaul 2
Jerimiah Louis not out 7
Colin Archibald c Anderson b Sinclair 0
Javier Spencer lbw b Sinclair 0
Extras 15 (lb-5, b-4, nb-3)
Fow: 46. 96, 96, 108, 109, 117,121, 125, 125
Smith 6-2-18-0, Joseph 6-1-16-0, Sinclair 16.5-3-33-6
Permaul 15-1-44-3, Adams 2-0-3-1