SUPER50: Pride snatch thrilling victory to leave Harpy Eagles winless

Barbados Pride registered their third win on the trot in the CG United Super50 Cup as they downed Guyana Harpy Eagles by one wicket in a nail-biting contest at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.

Demetrius Richards’ patient unbeaten 65 off 121 balls, including five fours and one six, steered Barbados Pride past their target at 204-9 after they won the toss and bowled out Harpy Eagles for 203 inside 48 overs.

With the win, Barbados Pride moved to the summit of the standings on 22 points, one point ahead of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (21 points), while Harpy Eagles sit fourth on 12 points.

Asked to take first strike, the Harpy Eagles, who lost their first encounter and had their second contest end in a no-result, would have been intent on opening their account but were let down by a sub-standard batting performance.

They lost in-form Matthew Nandu (14) with the score at 19-1, but Tagenarine Chanderpaul (34) and captain Tevin Imlach (35) gradually got the innings back on track with a 49-run second wicket stand.

Chanderpaul had three boundaries and a six in his 59-ball knock before he fell to Nyeem Young, while Imlach followed shortly after, as he became the first of Javed Leacock’s three scalps.

Leacock also accounted for Kemol Savory (seven) and Kevin Sinclair (zero) with the Harpy Eagles at 117-5.

However, a 46-run stand between topscorer Kevlon Anderson (52) and Keemo Paul (25) breathed new life into the innings, but when they fell, it signalled a writing on the wall for the Harpy Eagles.

Anderson, who used 72 balls for his 52, had two boundaries in the knock, while Paul had two sixes and a four in his 15-ball cameo.

Ashmead Need (19) offered little at the backend.

Leacock (3-43) was the pick of the Pride bowlers, with Dominic Drakes (2-38), Nyeem Young (2-29), and Jomel Warrican (2-27) offering support.

The Pride’s response started shakily, as they lost Kadeem Alleyne (four), Leniko Boucher (29), Zachary McCaskie (18), and Kevin Wickham (zero), with a mere 58 runs on the board. Three of those four wickets fell to slow left-arm orthodox bowler Nedd, with the other going to Veerasammy Permaul.

Captain Kyle Mayers (22) and Dominic Drakes (13) offered very little resistance as the Pride slipped to 115-6 before a 55-run stand between Richards and Nyeem Young (30) brought them within touching distance of victory.

Even after losing Young, Richards pushed on to ensure they got across the line.

Nedd ended with 3-43.

Harpy Eagles are back in action on Tuesday when they face Leeward Islands Hurricanes in a day/night match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Imperious Justin Greaves

SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 291-6 from 50 overs (Amir Jangoo 96, David Mohammed 79, Tion Webster 60; Oshane Thomas 2-54, Rahkeem Cornwall 1-38) v Leeward Islands Hurricanes 292-3 from 47.3 overs (Justin Greaves 151*, Mikyle Louis 57, Chesney Hughes 33, Jahmar Hamilton 25*; Khary Pierre 1-50, Yannic Cariah 1-56)

Barbadian Justin Greaves became the first West Indian batsman to score three consecutive List A hundreds.

Playing for Leeward Islands Hurricanes, opener Greaves has been in ripping form in the CG United Super50 Cup, with scores of151* vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force; 112 vs Barbados Pride and 111* vs West Indies Academy.

His 151 sealed an emphatic win for the Hurricanes on Sunday evening. (Modified from SportsMax)