Four-Day: Harpy Eagles staring at defeat; title hopes in limbo

At the close of play on day three, Guyana Harpy Eagles are staring at their first defeat of the season and it can derail their endeavour to win a sixth West Indies Four-Day Championship title since the Professional Cricket League commenced in the 2014-15 season.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes need a further 62 runs for victory with nine wickets intact on a pitch that still seems good for batting at the National Stadium, Providence.

The experienced Kieran Powell (47*) is still in the middle alongside Keacy Carty (17*) as Larry Auddain (12) was the lone man to fall to Kevin Sinclair in the chase of 143.

At this point, Guyana would hope Barbados Pride defeats Windward Islands Volcanoes, or at minimum, that match ends in a draw.

Before the start to round five, Volcanoes trailed Harpy Eagles by 10.2 points, but with 12 points for a victory plus the additional points on offer, they are well within reach of winning the title should they beat Pride and Eagles lose.

Meanwhile, the Eagles started the day 48-1 and were bowled out for 267, a vast improvement from 122 in the first innings.

They were 99-5, still not clearing the 125-run deficit until the lower-order, anchored by Kemol Savory (66*) and Veerasammy Permaul (65), got them to the respectable total.

Rahkeem Cornwall was the main destroyer with 4-58 while Jeremiah Louis took 3-66.

Play resumes Saturday at 09:30h and upon its conclusion, there will be a ceremony in honour of Leon Johnson, who retires from national duties after this match.

Summarised scores from the other two games

At Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad: Windward Islands Volcanoes 237 from 66.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 59, Tevyn Walcott 55, Ryan John 41; Akeem Jordan 5-44, Roshon Primus 2-44, Jomel Warrican 2-57) and 225 all out from 73.2 overs (Sunil Ambris 79, Ryan John 37*, Tevyn Walcott 35, Jomel Warrican 4-58, Jair McAlister 2-21, Akeem Jordan 2-59) vs Barbados Pride 227 all out from 90.4 overs (Sheyne Moseley 112, Rashawn Worrell 35; Larry Edward 6-43) & 28-3 from 17 overs (Moseley 10, Jonathan Drakes 9; Kenneth Dember 1-1). Pride needs 208 more runs for victory

At Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad: Jamaica Scorpions 125 all out from 29.4 overs (Derval Green 39, Jeavor Royal 27; Tion Webster 5-36, Terrance Hinds 3-40, Anderson Phillip 2-13) and 275 all out from 70.5 overs (Jermaine Blackwood 68, Leroy Lugg 66, Aldane Thomas 39, Abhijai Mansingh 32; Imran Khan 4-47, Anderson Phillip 2-46, Shannon Gabriel 2-52, Bryan Charles 2-75) vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 302 all out from 86.5 overs (Terrance Hinds 94, Anderson Phillip 63*, Joshua Da Silva 39; Derval Green 3-56, Marquino Mindley 2-56, Jeavor Royal 2-60, Ojay Shields 2-72) & 102-1 from 24.2 overs (Vikash Mohan 44*, Kamil Pooran 39, Darren Bravo 14*; Blackwood 1-16). Red Force won by nine wickets