Guyanese left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul on Thursday wrote his name in the history books, becoming the leading wicket-taker in Regional First-Class cricket in the Caribbean, as Guyana Harpy Eagles took full control against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad.
Playing in the third round of the West Indies Four-Day Championship, Harpy Eagles extended their lead against the hosts to 260 by stumps on day two, their dominance led in part by Permaul’s excellence with the ball.
While Ronsford Beaton led the bowling effort in securing Harpy Eagles a healthy 164-run first innings lead, Permaul surpassed Jamaican Nikita Miller’s haul of 511 wickets taken in First-Class cricket in the Caribbean.
Permaul ended with 3-36 and now has 512 wickets. With the three-wicket haul in his 132nd game, the 33-year-old spinner now has 582 First-Class wickets.
“It’s a good feeling to achieve such a significant milestone,” Permaul said at stumps on day two.
“Cricket is a game of numbers, so it’s always nice to have good numbers. I’m looking forward to getting more success and help my country to win the title again.”
“I want to thank all those who have supported me over the years, especially my teammates, my parents and everyone at my club, especially president Vemen Walter, who has been there from the start. I dedicate this milestone to them.”
Permaul is in his 17th season of First-Class cricket, having made his debut against Windward Islands in Grenada in January 2007.
He took 4-83 off 34 overs in a rain-affected game that ended in a draw.
From the playing XIs, Andre Fletcher is the only other active cricketer, while another Deighton Butler has transitioned to Umpiring.
Harpy Eagles dominate
Harpy Eagles closed on 96-3 after earning a huge first innings lead, with Kemol Savory not out on 34 and skipper Leon Johnson on nine. Matthew Nandu scored 33.
Uthman Muhammad, Imran Khan and Darren Bravo are the Red Force wicket-takers so far.
Notably, Bravo dismissed debutant Kevlon Anderson for the second time in the match, this time for 15. He made six in the first innings.
Earlier, Red Force, resuming on 7-0, were dismissed for 160 in response of Harpy Eagles’ 324.
Beaton was the pick of the Guyanese bowlers, taking 4-31, while Permaul grabbed 3-36 and Keemo Paul 3-37.
For Red Force, Jason Mohammed made 50, the only score of significance.
Summarized scores of the other two matches:
At Queen’s Park Oval: Barbados Pride 322 all out from 91.5 overs (Shane Dowrich 124*, Chaim Holder 43, Kevin Wickham 41, Zachary McCaskie 26; Rahkeem Cornwall 6-50, Sheeno Berridge 2-39) & 78 all out from 23.2 overs (McCaskie 29, Sheyne Moseley 27; Cornwall 5-19, Devon Thomas 5-22) lead Leeward Islands Hurricanes 154 all out from 42 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 30, Colin Archibald 24, Jeremiah Louis 24; Dominic Drakes 3-38, Holder 2-7, Jair McAlister 2-36) & 13-0 from two overs (Montcin Hodge 9*) by 234 runs
At Providence: Windward Volcanoes 217 all out from 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Tevyn Walcott 22; Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) & 298 all out from 78.5 overs (Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Larry Edward 23*, Sunil Ambris 23; Patrick Harty 3-62, Marquino Mindley 2-44, Gordon 2-59) lead Jamaica Scorpions 101 from 28.3 overs (Green 33, Merchant 24; Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) by 414 runs
