Rain, no play for Scorpions, Harpy Eagles end campaign on winning note

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

THE REGIONAL Super50 match between the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and the Jamaica Scorpions was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy yesterday.

The result leaves the Scorpions temporarily in third place on 40 points from six games, with a game to go on Friday.

The standings are led by the Red Force, who have 51 points, with the Barbados Pride, second on 42.

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes, on 38 points from five games are fourth and hold on to the last playoff spot.

The Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, 19 points in sixth, the West Indies Academy on 18 in seventh, and the Windward Islands on 17 have all played five games and can still make it into the top four.

On Monday, Kemol Savory and Kevlon Anderson hit half-centuries as the Guyana Harpy Eagles ended their campaign with a tense two-wicket win over the West Indies Academy.

That result left the Harpy Eagles in fifth place, just outside of the play-offs on 37 points from their seven matches and out of the semifinal places.

Savory scored an unbeaten 56 while Anderson made an even 50 to get the Harpy Eagles up to 204 for eight in 46.4 overs, in reply to the Academy’s 200 in 45.5 overs.

Good start

The Harpy Eagles did well to restrict WI Academy after winning the toss and electing to field.

The Academy were actually given a good start with openers Ackeem Auguste and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett putting on 47, before Niall Smith got rid of the latter for 25.

Rivaldo Clarke and Auguste then took their side to 84 for one in the 21st over. However, once Clarke was trapped lbw for 27 by spinner Veerasammy Permaul, the Academy suffered a collapse to lose six wickets for 61 and find themselves 145 for seven.

They required Johann Layne’s cameo of 26 from 17 balls and Jediah Blades, who scored an unbeaten 10, to get them up to the 200 mark.

Rampertab Ramnauth took 3-24, Junior Sinclair, 3-40, while Permaul claimed two wickets.

The Harpy Eagles were rocked early on by Blades, who accounted for Junior Sinclair, Keemo Paul, and Tevin Imlach, to leave them reeling on eight for three.

And when Ramnauth and Matthew Nandu lost their wickets, the Harpy Eagles were in real trouble at 77 for five in the 20th over.

Savory and Anderson rescued their side in a 76-run partnership for the sixth wicket that revived their innings but the Academy fought back to remove the latter and Permaul in quick succession, to leave the contest in the balance at 156 for seven.

Savory, though, found reliable partners in Ronaldo Alimohamed, who scored 13, and Ashmead Nedd, who finished on 12 not out to carry the Harpy Eagles to victory.