THE penultimate day of the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) opening round of the CWI’s First-Class Championship against Barbados Pride was action-packed at the Providence Stadium on Friday.
An unfinished half-century opening partnership between the left-handed Everest pair of Test batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul and former West Indies U-19 batter Matthew Nandu led Guyana to an emphatic 10-wicket victory inside three days.

Nandu scored an unbeaten on 33 with three fours while Chanderpaul finished not out on 40 with five boundaries Guyana, overnight 315-3, replying to Barbados’ 347 were bowled out for 382 to a slim lead of 36.

The first session fluctuated with Barbados taking five wickets for 67 runs, including overnight batters Kemol Savory and Kevlon Anderson.
By lunch Guyana, without the services of fast bowler Isai Thorne, had the Bajans on the ropes on 24-2.

Anderson extended his 87 to 101 from 157 balls decorated with 15 fours to post his third century while Savory who faced 144 balls with 14 fours and a six, fell one run short of his third ton.
West Indies ODI pacer Matthew Forde followed up his 82 with 5-69 in an auspicious First-Class debut. Jair McAllister supported Forde with 2-68.
The day began in glorious sunshine and with a handful of fans in the stands, the expectancy levels of Anderson and Savory of joining Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Tevin Imlach as two batters to Guyana batters to score centuries in the same innings in consecutive seasons.

Chanderpaul and Imlach achieved the feat last season against the Windwards in Antigua.
But that was not to be as Savory edged Forde to the keeper on 99 and with the score 321-4.

This was the 33rd time this happened in Regional First-Class Cricket since 1966 with Devon Smith falling for 99 on three occasions.
The demise of Savory ended his important 185-run stand with Anderson and Forde bowled Looknauth next ball, the impressive pacer was on a hat-trick.

Ali-Mohammed averted the hat trick and viciously counter- attacked the pacers and clobbered five humongous sixes in his 35 from 32-ball innings before he was bowled at 369-6.
Permaul (1) edged McAlister to the Keeper before Forde induced Anthony Adams (4) to edge a catch to Demetrius Richards behind the stumps as Guyana slipped to 369-8.

Anderson reached his ton from 154 balls with 15 fours when he pulled McCaskie to the boundary but soon provided Richards with his fifth catch and Forde with his fifth scalp.
Forde had 5-69 and got support from McAlister who had 2-68 for Barbados who reached 24-2 at Lunch.

After Lunch, only Skipper Raymond, who previously played for Guyana offered prolonged resistance with 37 from 89 balls with three fours before was LBW to Permaul at 49-3.
Jonathan Drakes played some delightful shots before he got a beauty from Ali-Mohamed for 26 while Kevin Wickham looked good in his 22 before Looknauth trapped him LBW at 94-4.
Looknauth who had 4-69 in the first innings, bagged four more wickets in the second innings to crown a good debut with the ball.

Guyana’s next match starts next Wednesday at the Providence Stadium and the defending Champions battle CCC from 10:00 hrs.