FOUR-DAY: Harpy Eagles stumble to 87-4 against West Indies Academy on rain-affected day

In a strange move to bat first against the pink ball in overcast and extremely windy conditions, Guyana Harpy Eagles were reduced to 87-4 from 25.4 overs by stumps on a rain-affected day against the West Indies Academy in third round action of the West Indies Four-Day Championship at the National Stadium, Providence.

The entire first session was wiped out owing to persistent showers, and the day/night game that was slated to start at 13:00h only got underway at 15:50h.

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West Indies left-arm fast-medium bowler Jediah Blades, who made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in December, rocked Harpy Eagles’ top-order with a three-wicket burst.

The 22-year-old first bowled Matthew Nandu (1) with a beauty, before trapping the in-form skipper Tevin Imlach leg before for four and having opener Raymond Perez caught at slip for an attractive 29 to reduce the defending champions to 37-3 just 11 overs into the match.

Kevlon Anderson and Kemol Savory then forged a partnership of 39 in between rain breaks before Anderson was trapped leg before by Johann Layne for 22.

Savory (20*) and Kevin Sinclair (eight not out) were the batters at the crease when another downpour brought a premature end to the first day.

Blades has taken 3-15 and Layne 1-42.

Meanwhile, Harpy Eagles handed Georgetown Cricket Club all-rounder Thaddeus Lovell a First-Class debut, playing his first senior regional game for the country.

The 20-year-old was presented with his cap by teammate and fellow fast bowler Nial Smith just before the start of play on Wednesday afternoon.

Harpy Eagles, the defending champions, are eyeing a third straight victory after defeating Barbados Pride and the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the first two rounds.

West Indies Academy, on the other hand, are searching for their first win after heavy defeats to Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Barbados Pride to start the tournament.

Guyana Harpy Eagles: Matthew Nandu, Raymond Perez, Tevin Imlach, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Nial Smith, Thaddeus Lovell and Ronaldo AliMohamed.

Harpy Eagles left out spin pair Richie Looknauth and Junior Sinclair, while opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and fast bowler Shamar Joseph were both unavailable due to injury.

West Indies Academy: Rivaldo Clarke, Teddy Bishop, McKenny Clarke, Zishan Motara, Johann Layne, Mavendra Dindyal, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Joshua Bishop, Jediah Blades, Justin Jagessar and Ackeem Auguste.

Below are the summarised scores from the other games

At Kensington Oval in Barbados: Jamaica Scorpions 231 all out from 67.5 overs (Odean Smith 50, Jeavor Royal 43; Chaim Holder 3-66, Kraigg Brathwaite 2-1, Jomel Warrican 2-42, Kemar Roach 2-45) vs Barbados Pride 9-0

At Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 326-3 from 79.3 overs (Joshua Da Silva 120*, Jason Mohammed 104*, Amir Jangoo 60; Rahkeem Cornwall 2-75) vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes

At Windsor Park in St. Kitts: Combined Campuses and Colleges 137-5 from 52 overs (Damel Evelyn 53, Johann Jeremiah 40; Darel Cyrus 2-28, Kenneth Dember 2-46) vs Windward Islands Volcanoes