By Brandon Corlette in Grenada

Justin Greaves’s impressive figures of 5-24 from 18 overs for the Windward Islands Volcanoes put Guyana Harpy Eagles behind the eight-ball on day two of the second round of the West Indies Championships, being played at the Grenada National Stadium.

Greaves’ third five-wicket haul has bundled out Guyana for 169 in 63.1 overs, with Veerasammy Permaul scoring 53. Volcanoes, who had posted 294 all out in their first innings, ended the second day on 48-2, enjoying a lead of 173 runs.

Pacers Ronsford Beaton and Nial Smith ran in with purpose in the final hour. Jernlani Robinson was induced into a top delivery from Beaton, and was caught at the wicket for three; and first innings centurion Alick Athanaze chased a wide ball and was caught at first-slip off the bowling of Smith.

Athanaze had struck Smith for a boundary, but was removed for 11 with the very next ball, to render the score at 19-2. Kimani Melius, who had a groin injury, was unable to open the batting. Kaveem Hodge (13) and Ambris (18) ensured no further hiccups as they took Volcanoes to stumps.

Guyanese batting crumble

Guyana Harpy Eagles lost Chandrapaul Hemraj early, when he took on a Darius Martin short-ball and was brilliantly caught in the deep by a jumping Kenneth Dember. The score was at 10-1 in 5.1 overs. After Hemraj had departed for four, Tevin Imlach, fresh off a pair in the first round, departed for three, adjudged caught behind off McSween. Imlach stood in disbelief after that decision from the umpire, as did Matthew Nandu, who was given leg-before for two after facing 41 balls.

Barbadian Greaves who was bowling a disciplined line and length. Nandu departed with Guyana Harpy Eagles reeling at 14-3 in 12 overs.
Captain Leon Johnson faced 19 balls for his five runs, and he was also trapped leg-before to Greaves at 28-4.

Kemol Savory was joined by Anthony Bramble, the latter seemingly trying to hit his way out of trouble. The Windward Islands bowlers kept things tight, and at lunch Guyana were 54-4 in 25 overs, trailing by 240 runs at that stage.

The 28-year-old Greaves then continued to make the ball talk, shaping one away to find the edge of Bramble at second slip. Bramble was removed for 21, after facing 35 balls, to become Greaves’s fourth wicket. His departure left the Harpy Eagles tumbling at 68-5 after 29.1 overs. In the same over, Savory went after a wide delivery and was caught by Greaves at the wicket for 20.

Savory, in his second first-class game, came out post lunch with more intent, as he had played one shot too many.
Kevin Sinclair and Veerasammy Permaul joined forces at 69-6 after 29.4 overs. The spin duo led the fightback with the bat, reaching their 50-run partnership from 85 balls. Permaul played an authoritative flowing drive that went for six off Ryan John; a delivery that went over wide long-off.

Rain forced an early tea at 14:20h with Guyana on 127-6. Permaul was on 30 and Sinclair on 23. Play resumed at 15:00h, and Permaul began with an elegant straight drive for two. Sinclair flashed at a wide delivery and was caught at the wicket at 130-7, ending a 61-run stand for the seventh wicket. Sinclair made a 55-ball 23, including two fours.

Shamar Joseph chased a wide delivery and was caught in the gully for five off a consistent John at 140-8. At that stage, Guyana was required to score 144 runs to avoid the follow-on. Nial Smith left one alone and was trapped leg-before for one, to give Greaves his third five-wicket haul at this level.

Permaul reached his fourth first-class fifty, but was the final man dismissed at 169 in 63.1 overs. The Barbadian Greaves, playing for Volcanoes, ended with 5-24 in 18 overs, including six maidens. Seamer John had 2-52 in 14 overs.

Earlier, Windward Islands Volcanoes resumed the day on 292-8 in 78.5 overs, but the innings was closed after 12 balls were bowled in the morning. Preston McSween (01) was bowled all ends up by Veerasammy Permaul, who got a delivery to straighten.

Permaul then created another chance against Darius Martin was dropped by substitute fielder Akshaya Persaud at forward short-leg. The next ball saw Martin hitting one down Kevin Sinclair’s throat at long-on, closing out the innings on 294 after 80.5 overs.

The Volcanoes had required to score 300 runs early in the day to record that extra batting point, but Permaul prevented that. The veteran Permaul ended on 4-70 in 22.5 overs, while Ronsford Beaton had 2-50 in 16 overs, and Sinclair had 2-66 in 21 overs. Nial Smith, who was expensive, had 1-51 in seven overs, and Shamar Joseph had 1-47 in 12 overs.

The third day will be the moving day, when Volcanoes will set Guyana a target.

Summaried scores of the other two matches in Antigua:

At Coolidge Cricket Ground: Jamaica Scorpions 140 all out from 54.5 overs (Jamie Merchant 35, Tevin Gilzene 32, Abhijai Mansingh 27; Shamar Springer 3-11, Camarie Boyce 3-26, Akeem Jordan 3-48) and 6-0 vs Barbados Pride 215 all out from 69.5 overs (Shayne Moseley 82, Shane Dowrich 64*; Patrick Harty 4-23, Marquindo Mindley 2-25, Abhijai Mansingh 2-30)

At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 369-8 from 114 overs (Daren Bravo 100, Imran Khan 68*, Yannic Cariah 52, Terrance Hinds 51; Jeremiah Louis 3-56, Sheeno Berridge 2-73, Colin Archibald 2-83)