FOUR-DAY: Looknauth (6-36) stars as Harpy Eagles soar to innings victory

Richie Looknauth turned in a superb all-round performance to propel the Guyana Harpy Eagles to a crushing innings-and-21-run victory over the West Indies Academy at the Antigua Recreation Ground in the West Indies Four-Day Championship on Wednesday.

The off-spinner’s six-wicket haul on the final day ensured the defending champions’ clinical finish, sending them into Sunday’s final, most likely at this point, against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, with a massive surge of momentum and a healthy selection dilemma.

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The Academy, forced to follow on after being dismissed for 485 in response to Guyana’s gargantuan first-innings total, began their second journey trailing by 178 runs. Any hopes of a rearguard action were swiftly extinguished by Looknauth.

After contributing a vital 77 with the bat earlier in the match, Looknauth proved even more lethal with the ball, ripping through the Academy lineup to finish with 6 for 36.

His ability to exploit the wear in the surface left the young Academy side searching for answers as they were bundled out for just 157 in 42 overs.

Guyanese product Mavendra Dindyal offered the most significant resistance for the Academy with a composed 41, while Giovonte Depeiza chipped in with 34, but the pressure from the Harpy Eagles’ spinners.

Gudakesh Motie provided the perfect foil for Looknauth, claiming 2 for 27 to ensure there was no escape from the squeeze. Thaddeus Lovell also played his part, picking up two wickets to wrap up the tail and seal a comprehensive win.

The bedrock of the victory was a monumental batting effort that spanned over 160 overs. Matthew Nandu’s marathon 237 served as the centrepiece of Guyana’s 663 all out, a total bolstered by a breakout maiden century from Jonathan Van Lange, who struck 133.

Support came from across the board, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (59) and Motie (48) providing early and late impetus respectively, leaving the Academy bowlers, led by Zishan Motara’s 6 for 202, exhausted.

The Academy had shown flashes of brilliance in their first innings, primarily through a fighting 180 from Rivaldo Clarke and a century from Amari Goodridge (123).