PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Rising Test star Alick Athanaze stroked a scintillating half-century but it was not enough, as Guyana Harpy Eagles wore down Windward Islands Volcanoes to win their opening game of the Regional Super50 Cup by 10 runs here Tuesday.
Alick Athanaze drives elegantly during his half-century against Guyana Harpy Eagles on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)With Volcanoes in pursuit of 230 for victory at the Brian Lara Stadium, the left-hander pummeled a swift 75 from 55 balls to put Volcanoes in command of the run chase at one stage at 109 for two in the 15th over.
However, Harpy Eagles’ spinners dried up the runs in stingy spells as Volcanoes then lost four wickets for 35 runs, to collapse to 144 for six in the 28th over.
Captain Andre Fletcher undertook a desperate late effort with an unbeaten 52 from 86 balls but wickets tumbled around him, and Volcanoes were eventually dismissed for 219 off 46 overs.
Fast bowler Romario Shepherd snatched three for 35 while off-spinner Kevin Sinclair (2-42) and seamer Nial Smith (2-43) supported with two wickets apiece.
“It’s plain to see [we lost it] in the batting. We let ourselves down,” Fletcher said afterwards.
“Being in a position of a hundred-plus for one and getting bowled out for 219 is unacceptable.”
Harpy Eagles had earlier rallied to 229 for nine from their 50 overs with Tevin Imlach and Sinclair both getting 41, and Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Gudakesh Motie both scoring 29.
Seamer Ryan John was the best bowler with four for 60, Volcanoes taking wickets at key stages to restrict Harpy Eagles.
“Definitely it’s good to start with a win as a team and as a captain,” said captain Veerasammy Permaul.
“I think in the batting we didn’t put up the kind of score that [represented] the calibre of batsmen that we’ve got but after half-time, we believed in ourselves that we could defend the 230.”
Chandrapaul Hemraj fell cheaply for one in the second over with four runs on the board but Imlach and Chanderpaul put on 67 for the second wicket to consolidate.
Chanderpaul and Kevlon Anderson (1) then fell in quick succession to leave the innings on 75 for three in the 22nd over before a series of small partnerships pushed Harpy Eagles past 200.
Imlach put on 26 for the fourth with Shimron Hetmyer (21) who in turn added a further 27 for the fifth with Sherfane Rutherford (23), before Sinclair posted 26 for the seventh with Shepherd (14) and 50 for the eighth with Motie.
Sinclair struck four fours and a six off 48 balls while Motie also logged an identical boundary count in his 19-ball cameo.
In reply, the 24-year-old Athanaze controlled the power-play for Volcanoes, posting 35 for the first wicket with Johnson Charles (14) and 69 for the third wicket with Sunil Ambris (19), after Kavem Hodge was bowled first ball in the fourth over by Shepherd at 40 for two.
Athanaze dominated the Harpy Eagles attack and had struck 11 fours and a couple of sixes when he holed out in the deep off Sinclair, triggering a collapse.
Fletcher, who counted three fours, combined with Shamar Springer (21) in a critical 52-run, seventh wicket partnership but once the latter nicked Shepherd behind, the tail collapsed.
