By Brandon Corlette at Providence
Guyana Harpy Eagles, under the leadership of Captain Courageous, Leon Johnson, are inching towards their sixth West Indies Four-Day Championship title.
With one round remaining this season, Guyana recorded a massive 228-run win against Jamaica Scorpions at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence. A collective bowling effort which was led by Kevin Sinclair’s 4-37 saw Jamaica losing nine wickets for 53 runs in the final morning of the match.
Jamaica Scorpions resumed the final day on 176-1, requiring another 282 runs to win. Tevin Gilzene was overnight on 81 and Jermaine Blackwood was on 66. However, the Guyanese bowlers came out with purpose, and were breathing fire. Gilzene was trapped by the probing Sinclair for 85, at 182-2.
That 172-run partnership was broken, and the floodgates were thrown wide open. The next over, Beaton found the edge of Paul Palmer and Tevin Imlach took an excellent catch at 183-3.
Abhijai Mansingh joined Blackwood, and the duo added 24 runs for the fourth wicket. Sinclair got one to straighten and a sharp Kemol Savory took a top catch at bat-pad to remove the brilliant Blackwood for 80. The West Indies vice-captain and Jamaica skipper faced 161 balls and slammed 12 fours in his 80.
Beaton continued to bowl with venom from the northern end, and was rewarded twice in the 56th over. Kevlon Anderson took two sharp catches at second slip and Jamaica found themselves reeling at 208-6.
Axed Test player Nkrumah Bonner was dropped to number eight in the batting line-up after he suffered an injury. He watched Veerasammy Permaul take two wickets in his first over of the final day. The Jamaican tailenders did not “wag”, as they were reduced to 229-9 in 65.3 overs. In the next over, Sinclair wrapped things up minutes before lunch when he found the outside edge of Bonner for five. He was taken at first slip by Anderson when Jamaica ended on 229 all out in 66.2 overs.
Sinclair ended on 4-37 in 18.2 overs, while Beaton had three wickets and Permaul claimed two wickets. The Guyanese will be playing against Leeward Islands in the fifth and final round from Wednesday March 29 at Providence.