Romario Shepherd made telling contributions with bat and ball as Guyana Harpy Eagles romped to a 176-run win over a Guyana Cricket Board Select XI in the second and final practice match for Harpy Eagles ahead of the CG United Super50 Cup, starting October 29.
A blistering half-century from Shepherd in the death overs was instrumental in Harpy Eagles posting an imposing 336-6 from the allotted 50 overs, to which the President’s XI responded with 160 all out in 30.4 overs with the all-rounder claiming four wickets.
The day/night encounter was played on Tuesday at the National Stadium, Providence.
Shepherd was the Most Valuable Player of the recently concluded Inter-county 50-over competition, claiming nine wickets and making 70 runs.
Batting first, Harpy Eagles got solid contributions from the middle and lower order, after openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul (14) and Anthony Bramble (16) and number three batter Kemol Savory (9) fell cheaply.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Tevin Imlach led the charge with 80 off 95 balls (5x4s, 2x6s), while Shepherd smashed seven fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 61 off just 20 balls.
Skipper Leon Johnson scored 56 off 78 (5x4s), and Sherfane Rutherford cleared the ropes five times in a 34-ball 53.
Bowling for the Select XI, off-spinner Junior Sinclair and seamer Shamar Joseph took 2-63 and 2-77 respectively.
Shepherd then returned with the ball to take 4-7 off four overs as Select XI folded meekly. Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took 3-39 and Kevin Sinclair 2-44.
Akshaya Persaud topscored with an unbeaten 65 off 79 (6x4s, 1×6), while Harpy Eagles newcomer Quentin Sampson struck six sixes and two fours in 55 off 27.
The Guyana Harpy Eagles will leave for Trinidad on Thursday, and will open their campaign on October 31 against Windward Islands Volcanoes at Queen’s Park Oval.
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The squad reads: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Gudakesh Motie, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Kemol Savory, Sherfane Rutherford, Tevin Imlach, Quentin Sampson, Anthony Bramble, Nial Smith, Kevin Sinclair and Clinton Pestano.
The management staff: Albert Clements (Manager), Ryan Hercules (Head Coach), Garvin Nedd (Assistant Coach), Angelica Holder (Physiotherapist) and Kheshava Ramphal (Cricket Analyst).
