SET an improbable 455 runs to win on the final day of their four-day practice match yesterday at Providence, Kemol Savory’s X1 reached 127-7 against Nail Smith’s X1 on a truncated day as the rain had the final say.

This was the final practice match in preparation for the CWI’s Regional First-Class Championships scheduled to commence on January 29.
Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) are set to face off with Barbados Pride at Providence in the opening round.

The Guyana team for the first round should be announced on Monday and will miss several key players due to Test duties in Pakistan and T20 commitments in Dubai.
On Saturday, in overcast conditions, 35-year-old left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul put Smith’s X1 in a commanding position for a victory at Tea with Savory’s X1
who began the rain-hit day on 0-0, on 127-7.

The experienced Permaul, who holds the Regional First-Class for most wickets from 144 matches including 31 scalps in nine Tests, bagged 4-48 and got support from versatile off-spinning all-rounder Junior Sinclair who took 2-26 to follow up his century with the bat.

When play began, Brandon Jaikarran and his DCC club-mate Raymond Perez added 42 before the impressive Sinclair removed the left-handed Jaikarran for 16 with three fours from 33 balls before Zynul Ramsammy (5) fell to Permaul at 57-2.

But with the score on 62 and Perez looking set for a fifty, the elegant right-hander hit Permaul to Askaya Persaud after reaching the ropes six times in his top score of 37 from 68 balls after spending an hour and 17 minutes at the crease.

Perez’s demise triggered a collapse as only Sharmar Yearwood who reached the boundary thrice in his 19 and Richie Looknauth who made 20 with three fours, offered token resistance before Tea.

But the rain had the final say with Thaddeus Lovell (12) and Ashmead Nedd (5) at the crease at the break