Defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles wasted little time reminding the competition why they hold the crown.
In a tense and fluctuating contest at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, the Harpy Eagles overcame the Windward Islands Volcanoes by four wickets to launch their 2026 West Indies Championship campaign in winning fashion.
It was not a cruise, it was a test of composure. And they passed.
Captain sets the tone
At the center of the chase stood Tevin Imlach, who delivered a captain’s innings under pressure.
Resuming the day unbeaten, Imlach extended his influence with a commanding 82, guiding the innings through its most critical phase. His knock, compiled from 147 balls and decorated with 11 boundaries, provided both stability and intent.
Alongside him, Matthew Nandu played the perfect supporting role. His patient 58 from 182 balls anchored the other end, ensuring the chase never drifted out of control.
Together, they added a decisive 100-run partnership that shifted the match firmly in Guyana’s favor.
Morning control, midday breakthrough
With the target of 231 within reach, the Harpy Eagles, resuming on 38 for one, tightened their grip through the morning session.
For a time, Imlach appeared destined for a century, calmly dictating the tempo. But the breakthrough finally came when Ryan John trapped him lbw, halting the captain just short of a landmark.
The Volcanoes seized that moment.
Soon after, Kenneth Dember removed Nandu, leaving the score at 155 for three and briefly reigniting belief within the Windward Islands Volcanoes camp.
Late wobble sparks tension
What followed was a flicker of vulnerability.
The Harpy Eagles stumbled, losing Kemol Savory, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and Keemo Paul in quick succession.
The chase, once under firm control, suddenly demanded composure.
Enter Gudakesh Motie, already influential with the ball earlier in the match, now decisive with the bat.
Motie counterattacked with an unbeaten 23 from just 13 deliveries, cutting through any lingering tension and driving the Harpy Eagles to 233 for six in 78.4 overs.
It was a finish that combined urgency with authority, closing the door on any late drama.
Volcanoes fall just short
For the Volcanoes, the effort was spirited but ultimately insufficient.
John (2-48) and Dember (2-75) led the bowling charge, creating opportunities and briefly unsettling the chase, but the early advantage established by Imlach and Nandu proved too much to overturn.
If this opening match is any indication, the Harpy Eagles’ title defense will be defined not just by talent, but by resilience.
They were challenged, tested, and momentarily shaken, but never undone.
And that, more than anything, is the mark of champions.
