Defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles are one match away from another West Indies Championship title.
The Tevin Imlach-led side defeated the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 93 runs on Wednesday’s fourth and final day at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua to finish at the top of the table and secure an automatic spot in the final as a result.
In the day’s other game, played at the Antigua Recreation Ground, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes produced a heroic batting performance to stave off defeat against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.
As has been the case for the entire season, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie played a starring role for the Harpy Eagles in their comprehensive 93-run win over the hapless Volcanoes.
The result helped the defending champions sweep the bilateral series 3-0 and earned them a direct spot in the finals after finishing top of the table.
It was always going to be a tough ask for the Volcanoes, who resumed the day on 17 for one in pursuit of 319 runs for victory.
They soon found themselves on the back foot when Nial Smith trapped Stephan Pascal lbw for 12 and speedster Shamar Joseph dismissed Kavem Hodge for eight to reduce them to 36 for three.
Johann Jeremiah and Alick Athanaze gave the Volcanoes hope of pulling off an unlikely victory during a 74-run partnership for the fourth wicket that saw them progress to 110 for three.
However, things went downhill for the Volcanoes after veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul bowled Jeremiah for 25.
Motie then got into the thick of things, dismissing Shadrack Descarte and Noelle Leo to make the score 145 for six.
Athanaze tried his best in scoring 64 off 116 balls, but it was never going to be enough as Motie and Permaul ran through the lower order, accounting for the final four wickets to fall.
Motie claimed 4-82, Permaul took 3-41, and Joseph, 2-26.
At the Antigua Recreation Ground, Keacy Carty and captain Justin Greaves both scored crucial centuries to earn the Hurricanes a share of the spoils in their contest against the Red Force.
The two batters led a Herculean effort by the Hurricanes, who, despite starting the day on 160 for four, got up to 467 for seven before both teams agreed to a draw.
While the writing seemed to be on the wall for an easy Red Force victory, Carty and Greaves had other plans.
Trinidad and Tobago players celebrate the fall of a wicket. (CWI)
Justin Greaves celebrates after scoring a century. (CWI)
With their backs against the wall, the pair added 174 runs for the fifth wicket to breathe life back into the Volcanoes’ innings.
They carried the score to 271 before the Red Force finally got the breakthrough when left-arm spinner Khary Pierre held on to a return catch offered by Carty.
In all, Carty faced 212 balls and struck 16 fours and two sixes in his four-hour-and-45-minute stay at the crease.
The Red Force continued to push for victory and were rewarded with the wickets of Cameron Pennyfeather for 20 and the key wicket of Greaves, who scored 122 off 178 balls and struck 14 fours and one six, to leave the score on 355 for seven.
But any hope the visitors had of bowling out their opponents was brought to a screeching halt by Rahkeem Cornwall and Jahmar Hamilton.
Cornwall scored an unbeaten 66 off 100 balls, while Hamilton finished on 50 not out off 111 balls, to frustrate the Red Force’s bowling attack in an unbroken partnership of 112 that sealed the outcome.
Pacer Anderson Phillip took 4-89 for the Red Force, who finished second in the standings and will now take on Barbados Pride for a place in the final to face the Harpy Eagles.
(CMC)
