FOUR-DAY: Classy Nandu hits unbeaten 110 as Harpy Eagles fightback

On a surface offering little for the bowlers and everything for a settled batsman, Matthew Nandu produced a masterclass in concentration for the Guyana Harpy Eagles.

By the close of day two at the Antigua Recreation Ground, the 22-year-old opener had not only notched his second First-Class century but also crossed the milestone of 1,000 career runs, anchoring a spirited response to the West Indies Academy’s mammoth first-innings total.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/3202a027-c2f8-4257-be29-cd0091ee2da0/scorecard

Entering the fray under the shadow of the Academy’s 485, the Harpy Eagles required a foundation built on both grit and rhythm. They found it in the traditionalist pairing of Nandu and Tagenarine Chanderpaul.

The duo expertly blunted the new ball, negotiating a disciplined but ultimately frustrated Academy attack to stitch together a 127-run opening stand.

While Chanderpaul played his typical role of the immovable object, scoring a sturdy 59, Nandu provided the fluency that the innings required.

The left-hander looked a man in peak form, timing the ball with ease as he prepares for the high-stakes final on Sunday.

Driving with elegance and showing clinical precision off his pads, Nandu has so far faced 186 deliveries, an innings punctuated by 13 boundaries.

In the process of stabilising the reply, he surpassed the 1,000-run mark in First-Class cricket in his 24th match.

The Academy’s bowlers, led by leg-spinner Zishan Motara, who claimed 2 for 87, found success in patches, but by stumps, Harpy Eagles progressed, with debutant Zeynul Ramsammy providing unbeaten support on 12.

Guyana had reached 248 for 3, trailing by 237 runs.

Earlier in the morning, the Harpy Eagles’ bowling unit showed commendable clinical efficiency, ensuring the Academy did not bat them out of the game entirely.

Resuming on 423 for 6, the Academy’s lower order was quickly stifled as the final four wickets fell for the addition of just 62 runs.

With the championship final against either Trinidad and Tobago Red Force or Barbados Pride looming, the Harpy Eagles appear intent on using the third day as an extended dress rehearsal.

Summarised score in the other match:

At Coolidge: Barbados Pride 262-9 from 61 overs (Leniko Boucher 80, Joshua Bishop 79, Shamar Springer 51; Anderson Phillip 4-51, Terrance Hinds 3-48, Jayden Seales 2-58) trail  Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 333 all out from 111.2 overs  (Cephas Cooper 93, Joshua DaSilva 70, Terrance Hinds 51, Amir Jangoo 41, Jyd Goolie 33; Shamar Springer 3-40, Kyle Mayers 2-39, Johann Layne 2-58, Roston Chase 2-66) by 71 runs