Four-Day: Motie bags 6-73 as Harpy Eagles limit Volcanoes to 286

A masterclass from Gudakesh Motie ensured Guyana Harpy Eagles stayed firmly in the hunt on the opening day of their Regional Four-Day clash against Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Motie’s 6 for 73 dismantled the Volcanoes’ middle and lower order, restricting them to 286 before Guyana’s openers safely negotiated a testing one-over period before stumps.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/f89cda16-6d0d-49e9-a8d3-961a7afdd375/scorecard/1

The day, however, belonged as much to Ackeem Auguste as it did to Motie. The young left-hander played an innings of immense composure and technical proficiency, anchoring the Volcanoes’ effort with a delightful 95.

Keemo Paul (2-27) justified Tevin Imlach’s decision to bowl first by removing Stephan Pascal, but Auguste looked every bit the future of West Indies batting.

He found able, if not enduring, partners in Kavem Hodge (31) and Sunil Ambris (30).

Auguste’s 177-ball stay was punctuated by 12 boundaries, many of them crisp drives through the covers that suggested a maiden First-Class century was a mere formality.

But the ‘nervous nineties’  claimed another victim in agonising fashion. With a ton in sight, Auguste succumbed to a moment of rush-of-blood, attempting a lofted shot against the guile of Motie.

Ryan John provided a late-order wag with a defiant 42 and Darron Nedd contributed 35 to push the total past 250.

With 86.1 overs of toil behind them, the Harpy Eagles were left with a solitary over to face before the close of play.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, typically watchful, picked up two runs, while Matthew Nandu remained scoreless.

Summarised scores of other matches:

At Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 62-0 from 26 overs (Evin Lewis 28*, Chephas Cooper 22*) trail Leeward Hurricanes 138 all out from 60.5 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 44, Jewel Andrew 27; Bryan Charles 3-9, Khary Pierre 3-34, Jayden Seales 2-31) by 76 runs

At Chedwin Park, Jamaica: Jamaica Scorpions 17-0 from six overs (Kirk Mckenzie 8*, John Campbell  3*) trail Barbados Pride 348 all out from 81.4 overs (Kevin Wickham 153, Kyle Mayers 64, Shamar Springer 40, Joshua Bishop 37; Marquino Mindley 4-32, Peat Salmon 4-102, Ojay Shields 2-58) by 331 runs