ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – The opening round of the 2025 West Indies Championship witnessed commanding victories as the Guyana Harpy Eagles and Leeward Islands Hurricanes stamped their authority with decisive wins over Barbados Pride and West Indies Academy, respectively, on Friday.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Scorpions remain in the driver’s seat heading into the final day of their clash against the Windward Islands Volcanoes, and the CCC face an uphill battle against T&T Red Force in Trinidad.
Richie Looknauth’s dream debut stuns Barbados
At the Guyana National Stadium, the Harpy Eagles showcased their championship mettle, wrapping up a clinical 10-wicket victory over the Barbados Pride by day three.
Resuming their first innings on 315-3, the Eagles pushed their total to 382 in 101.5 overs, effectively wiping out a 31-run overnight deficit. Matthew Forde emerged as the standout bowler for Barbados, scalping an impressive 5-69 in 19.5 overs, while Jair McAllister provided support with 2-68 in 13 overs.
Trailing by just 36 runs, the Pride faltered dramatically, crumbling for a paltry 112 in 41.4 overs. Captain Raymon Reifer top-scored with 37, while Jonathan Drakes (26) and Kevin Wickham (23) offered fleeting resistance.
However, the match belonged to debutant Richie Looknauth, who delivered a breath-taking spell, adding to his first-innings 4-69 with a phenomenal 5-23 in 11.4 overs. Ronaldo Alimohamed (2-36) complemented the carnage as Barbados capitulated.
Needing just 77 to win, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (40 not out) and Matthew Nandu (33 not out) made light work of the chase, guiding the defending champions to a 78-0 finish in 28 overs, sealing an emphatic victory.
Cornwall and Walsh Jr rip through opponents
Meanwhile, at Coolidge Cricket Ground, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes made an authoritative statement by demolishing West Indies Academy with a staggering 402-run win inside three days.
Resuming their second innings at 134-4 with an imposing 347-run lead, the Hurricanes extended their tally to 289-9 declared in 64.4 overs, setting a near-impossible 503-run target. Shelton Forbes (53 off 135 balls) anchored the innings, while Colin Archibald (61 off 60) and Jahmar Hamilton (46 off 39) added valuable contributions.
Despite a grueling workload, left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop impressed for the Academy, taking 3-89 to finish with an admirable match haul of 10-174.
Faced with a mountainous total, the Academy batsmen collapsed under the weight of the Hurricanes’ ferocious spin attack, tumbling for just 100 in 34.5 overs. Hayden Walsh Jr (5-24 in 6.5 overs) and Rahkeem Cornwall (4-41 in 13 overs) proved unplayable as only three batsmen—Justin Jagessar (26), Teddy Bishop (23), and Joshua Bishop (21 not out)—managed double digits. The one-sided affair ended in a crushing defeat for the Academy.
Blackwood’s brilliance sets up final-day finish
Over at Arnos Vale, the Jamaica Scorpions are on the cusp of a commanding victory, needing just nine wickets on Saturday’s final day to seal their dominance over the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Jermaine Blackwood led from the front, orchestrating an imposing target of 420 for the Volcanoes. By stumps, the hosts had reached 65-1, still requiring 355 runs for an improbable victory. Stephan Pascal (24 not out) and Keron Cottoy (8 not out) remain at the crease, tasked with an enormous challenge on the final day.
Earlier, the Scorpions resumed their second innings at 72-1 with a 214-run lead, intent on shutting out the Volcanoes. Kirk McKenzie (46) departed early, but Blackwood (75) anchored the innings with composure, sharing a crucial 99-run fifth-wicket stand with Daniel Beckford (50 not out). Contributions from Odean Smith (35) added to the Scorpions’ dominance.
For the hosts, Kenneth Dember emerged as the lone bright spot, bagging 5-95, but the Scorpions’ declaration at 277-7 in 75.5 overs left the Volcanoes in a near-hopeless position.
T&T poised for commanding victory
At Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) find themselves in a precarious situation, trailing T&T Red Force by 192 runs with nine wickets remaining at press time Friday.
After posting a formidable 504-6 declared, thanks to Jason Mohammed’s magnificent 176 and Jyd Goolie’s 121, the Red Force bowlers dismantled CCC for 222 all out. Yannic Cariah (3-26) spearheaded the attack.
In their follow-on innings, CCC reached 90-1, with Damel Evelyn (46 not out) providing resistance, but an uphill battle looms against a relentless Red Force bowling attack.
