Regional Four-Day: Chanderpaul and Motie in Harpy Eagles squad for fourth round

Points leaders Guyana Harpy Eagles have been bolstered by the return of Test players Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Gudakesh Motie for the fourth round of the Regional Four-Day Championship, starting Wednesday (March 22) against Jamaica Scorpions at the National Stadium, Providence.

The 13-man squad was released on Monday, with the injured wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble and all-rounder Keemo Paul making way for the Test pair.

Bramble suffered a nasty blow to the face while keeping to a Ronsford Beaton delivery during the 143-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the last round and hasn’t fully recovered, while Paul is unavailable for selection due to IPL commitments with Lucknow Super Giants.

The squad reads: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory, Leon Johnson (Captain), Tevin Imlach, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-captain), Ronsford Beaton, Nial Smith, Antony Adams and Shamar Joseph.

Following that commanding win over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Saturday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Guyana Harpy Eagles have extended their lead at the top of the table heading into the final two rounds of matches.

Crucially, the Harpy Eagles’ final two games are at the National Stadium, Providence, a home venue where they have virtually been unbeatable. That means Leon Johnson’s men in a prime position to retain a title they won five years in succession from the 2014-15 season.

With two wins and a draw from the three completed rounds, Harpy Eagles have moved to 49 points, 11.2 clear of Windward Islands Volcanoes, who have 37.8 points. Leeward Islands Hurricanes are third on 34.2 points.

Like Harpy Eagles, Volcanoes and Hurricanes also won their third round encounter, defeating Jamaica Scorpions by 181 runs and Barbados Pride by two wickets respectively.

Barbados Pride (31.2), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (24.8) and Jamaica Scorpions (15.4) occupy positions fourth to sixth respectively on the points table.

The fifth and final round will start on March 29.