Savory, Johnson and bowlers push Harpy Eagles closer to victory

Essequibo batsman Kemol Savory struck a maiden First-Class hundred in just his third game, skipper Leon Johnson made his second half-century of the match and the bowlers then chipped away at Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s top-order to put Guyana Harpy Eagles in a prime position to push for an outright victory on Saturday.

Set a massive target of 412, Red Force closed day three of the third round clash in the West Indies Four-Day Championship on 106-3 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, 306 runs away from victory with skipper Darren Bravo not out on 63.

Resuming on 96-3, Harpy Eagles declared after lunch on day three, a decision that was made possible by a solid second innings batting effort led by Savory and Johnson.

WATCH: The moment Kemol Savory got to 100! 

Savory scored 101* off 222 balls (5x4s, 1×6) and Johnson 74 off 158 (10x4s, 1×6) in a fourth-wicket partnership of 141 as Harpy Eagles declared on 247-6.

While it was Savory’s first score over 50 in First-Class cricket, the half-century was Johnson’s 42nd in his 125th game.

Opener Matthew Nandu made 33, while Bravo took 2-23 and Bryan Charles 2-60.

Harpy Eagles had gained a first innings lead of 164 on first innings after dismissing Red Force for 160.

The Eagles would aim for an outright victory on Saturday, one that would take them a step closer to retaining a title they won five times in a row from the 2014-15 season.

Summarised scores of the other two matches:

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) and 298 all out from 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Larry Edward 23*, Sunil Ambris 23; Patrick Harty 3-62, Marquino Mindley 2-44, Gordon 2-59) vs Jamaica Scorpions 101 from 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24; Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) and 233-9 from 99 overs (Aldane Thomas 55, Abhijai Mansingh 50, Derval Green 48; Shermon Lewis 4-22, Justin Greaves 2-42, Larry Edwards 2-65). Scorpions need another 182 for victory with one wicket in hand

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) and 78 all out from 23.2 overs (McCaskie 29, Sheyne Moseley 27; Cornwall 5-19, Devon Thomas 5-22) vs 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) and 247-8 from 49.2 overs (Kieran Powell 104, Jahmar Hamilton 55; Chaim Holder 3-38, Jair McAllister 2-47, Camarie Boyce 2-59). Hurricanes won by two wickets