Tagenarine Chanderpaul produced an uncharacteristic unbeaten cameo as Guyana Harpy Eagles stunned leaders Barbados Pride by five wickets in a thrilling finish to their third round contest at the Queen’s Park Oval, on Saturday.
Set 68 to win from 13 overs deep in the last session on the final day, Harpy Eagles got home with an over to spare thanks to the left-handed Chanderpaul’s 10-ball unbeaten 23.
More known for his tedious batting – which brought him an unbeaten 140 in the first innings – Chanderpaul dispensed with caution in favour of adventure, to get Harpy Eagles over the line.
With his side needing quick runs at the top, Chanderpaul was demoted to number seven but still arrived at the crease with the game in the balance, with Harpy Eagles struggling on 46 for five in the 10th over.
He started busily and then with 15 runs required from 11 deliveries, turned the game firmly in Guyana’s favour by plundering 18 runs from the penultimate over sent down by fast bowler Akeem Jordan who finished with four for 31.
Chanderpaul whipped the second ball through square for four, followed up with another boundary to mid-wicket before sprinting two to wide long on off the fourth ball.
With five runs needed, Chanderpaul unfurled an extraordinary scoop from outside off-stump to the fine leg boundary before blasting the final delivery of the over to the straight boundary, to set off celerbations for Harpy Eagles.
Scorpions beat Volcanoes by
wan innings and 14 runs
Jamaica Scorpions defeated Windward Islands Volcanoes by an innings and 14 runs on the penultimate day of the third round of the Regional First Class Championship at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, San Fernando on Friday.
Scores
WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 137 (Kerron Cottoy 50, Kavem Hodge 23; Marquino Mindley 5-20) and 195 (Kavem Hodge 63, Devon Smith 34; Derval Green 5-46, Jamie Merchant 5-72)
JAMAICA SCORPIONS 346 (Brandon King 119 not out, Jamie Merchant 58, John Campbell 48, Leroy Lugg 36, Jermaine Blackwood 26; Preston McSween 4-96, Josh Thomas 3-56)