FOUR-DAY: Scorpions force draw to dash Harpy Eagles’ title hopes
SUMMARY: Jamaica Scorpions 393 all out from 109.3 overs (Jermaine Blackwood 114, Aldane Thomas 100, Alwyn Williams 51; Veerasammy Permaul 3-96, Gudakesh Motie 2-39, Kevin Sinclair 2-74, Demetri Cameron 2-103) and 271-6 from 80 overs (John Campbell 98, Leroy Lugg 67; Permaul 3-61, Motie 2-73) vs Guyana Harpy Eagles 584-7 dec. from 157 overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 184, Vishaul Singh 100*, Tevin Imlach 79, Chandrapaul Hemraj 78, Leon Johnson 58, Kevin Sinclair 36; Nicholson Gordon 4-122)
Report and Photography by Akeem Greene in Trinidad
Guyana Harpy Eagles are practically out of the title race in the Cricket West Indies Four-Day Championship after Jamaica Scorpions batted all day to force a draw at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Trinidad, on Saturday.
Leaders and defending champions, Barbados Pride, got a massive win over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, and second-placed Leeward Hurricanes hammered Windward Volcanoes, which means the gap between Eagles and Pride has been extended significantly with just the remaining fifth round to be contested.
After Scorpions racked up 393 and the Eagles responded with 584-7 declared, the match seemed destined for a draw on a batting paradise, complemented by small boundaries.
Eagles made an overnight declaration with a lead of 191 and the idea was to either bowl out Scorpions for below that total or just above, skipper Leon Johnson said at the post-match interview, but the unresponsive nature of the pitch meant both sides called it off at 16:30h.
Scorpions reached 271-6, which effectively meant they were 80-6, but only ten overs remained in the day’s play.
Campbell, Lugg in the runs
Leroy Lugg and John Campbell got them off to a flying start with an opening stand of 105 in 22.3 overs.
Lugg was the protagonist with some powerful shots, many of which sailed out of the ground and into nearby houses.
He managed to carve out a brutal 67 from 72 balls, which comprised five fours and six maximums before Veersammy Permaul bowled him.
Campbell kept going, and probably conscious his Test spot might be in jeopardy, the left-hander looked set on making a second century of the season.
The usual free-flowing drives and pulls were his trademarks in 98 from 155 balls (11x4s; 1×6), but once again Permaul brought hope for the Eagles when he dismissed Campbell leg before.
Paul Palmer Jr. (26) and Alwyn Williams (26) stabilised proceedings with a stand of 41, which kept the threatening Gudakesh Motie and Keemo Paul at bay.
Eagles had numerous drops, near-chances and misfields, which let the pressure off the Scorpions in a match where they desperately needed to win to stay in title contention.
In the final round, which starts on June 1, the Eagles will play Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval; Windward Volcanoes battle Barbados Pride at Diego Martin, and Scorpions face Leeward Hurricanes at Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Below are the summarised scores from the other games
At Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 133 (Imran Khan 29, Terrance Hinds 25, Joshua DaSilva 23; Jomel Warrican 3-21, Akeem Jordan 2-17, Ramon Simmonds 2-24, Justin Greaves 2-26) and 139 (Yannic Cariah 35*, Keagan Simmons 31 Jeremy Solozano 14; Roston Chase 2-26, Greaves 3-27, Jordan 3-32) lost to Barbados Pride 294 (Raymon Reifer 79, Greaves 50, Jonathan Carter 41, Jordan 31; Hinds 5-32, Imran Khan 2-60) by an innings and 22 runs.
At Queen’s Park Oval: Leeward Hurricanes: 333 (Collin Archibald 106*, Jahmar Hamilton 52, Daniel Doram 43, Terance Ward 30; Preston McSween 5-92, Kenneth Dember 2-77) and 252-8 declared (Devon Thomas 50, Ross Powell 40, Rahkeem Cornwall 38; Dember 3-62, Darius Martin 3-93) beat Windward Volcanoes 173 (Keron Cottoy 73*, Devon Smith 35; Rahkeem Cornwall 5-61, Jeremiah Louis 3-26) and 184 (Kimani Melius 51, Kaveem Hodge 43, Ackeem Auguste 18; Cornwall 6-45, Doram 3-13) by 228 runs.
