In a remarkable display of all-round prowess, the West Indies Academy delivered a stunning blow to the Guyana Harpy Eagles, defeating them by 92 runs in the Regional Super50 Cup held in St. Augustine, Trinidad on Wednesday.
The West Indies Academy showcased their resilience by bouncing back from a challenging position of 135 for seven in the 32nd over to set a competitive target of 263 runs for Harpy Eagles. Matthew Forde, known for his pace bowling, surprised with a top-score of 52 runs from 55 deliveries, while Teddy Bishop continued his impressive form with 48 runs from 46 balls. Captain Nyeem Young contributed a brisk 42 from 44 balls, and the likes of Joshua Bishop (33) and Kevin Wickham (32) provided crucial support.
Harpy Eagles’ bowlers, including off-spinner Kevin Sinclair (2-36), left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul (2-38), Gudakesh Motie (2-39), and fast bowler Shamar Joseph (2-59), initially threatened to dismantle the West Indies Academy’s innings.
Harpy Eagles struggle to make an impact
However, the Academy held their ground and posted a competitive total. Ackeem Auguste, a part-time leg-spinner, emerged as an unlikely hero, taking four wickets for 47 runs, while Nyeem Young contributed with three wickets for 18 runs from his four overs of pace.
In response, the Harpy Eagles struggled to make an impact. Kevin Sinclair top-scored with 46 runs from 56 deliveries, followed by Veerasammy Permaul with 32 runs from 28 balls and Kevlon Anderson with 27 runs from 31 balls. Unfortunately, these were the only contributions exceeding 20 runs for Harpy Eagles.
The turning point of the match came when Young, with a three-wicket burst, left the Harpy Eagles struggling at 69 for four in the 13th over. Despite Kevin Sinclair’s valiant effort with six fours and a six, Harpy Eagles faced a collapse as the last six wickets fell for just 69 runs.
The West Indies Academy’s triumph in this match marked their third win in six games, significantly boosting their chances of securing a spot in the semi-finals. Their composed and determined performance proved to be too much for the favored Harpy Eagles.
