ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul delivered a commanding all-round performance as the Guyana Harpy Eagles steamrolled the Windward Islands Volcanoes inside three days to secure their second straight victory in the West Indies Championship yesterday.
Already in complete control entering the third day, the Harpy Eagles transformed a strong position into total devastation, piling up a massive first-innings lead before unleashing a ruthless bowling attack that dismantled the Volcanoes for 199.
The emphatic victory underlined Guyana’s growing dominance in the competition and showcased the depth that continues to make them one of the tournament’s most dangerous sides.
Lower order turns the screw
Resuming the morning on 361 for 8 in reply to the Volcanoes’ modest first-innings total of 151, the Harpy Eagles appeared poised for a healthy advantage.
What followed, however, was far more damaging.
Permaul, batting at number nine, spearheaded a remarkable lower-order assault that left the Volcanoes drained and demoralized. The final three wickets produced an astonishing 160 additional runs as Guyana surged to 491 all out and established a towering lead of 340.
Permaul remained unbeaten on 82 after a composed and aggressive innings that came from 150 deliveries and included nine fours and two sixes.
He first combined with fast bowler Shamar Joseph in a punishing 74-run partnership. Joseph contributed a lively 46 before departing, but the resistance only intensified.
Last man Nial Smith then joined Permaul in an unbroken last-wicket stand worth 86 runs, frustrating the Volcanoes further as Smith chipped in with a valuable 37.
By the time the innings finally ended, the match had already drifted heavily beyond the reach of the home side.
Volcanoes collapse after strong start
Faced with the daunting challenge of overcoming a 340-run deficit, the Volcanoes needed resilience and discipline from their top order.
For a brief period, they responded admirably.
Openers Ackeem Auguste and Stephan Pascal provided a solid start with a 40-run opening stand before offspinner Richie Looknauth trapped Pascal lbw for 16.
Auguste then found steady support from Kavem Hodge, and together the pair added 65 runs for the second wicket to guide the Volcanoes to a promising 105 for 1.
At that stage, the possibility of a prolonged fightback still existed.
Then the collapse began.
Motie and Permaul rip through the middle order
Gudakesh Motie, who had already claimed 10 wickets in Guyana’s opening match of the tournament, once again proved devastating.
The left-arm spinner shifted the momentum decisively when he had Hodge caught behind for 27 before bowling Johann Jeremiah for 11, reducing the Volcanoes to 141 for 3.
From there, panic spread quickly through the batting order.
Permaul joined the destruction by removing Sunil Ambris for 15, and the innings rapidly unraveled. The Volcanoes slumped from 162 for 4 to 183 for 7 as Guyana’s bowlers tightened their grip.
Motie dismissed Shadrack Descarte for one and Noelle Leo for six, while Permaul accounted for Ryan John for seven during the collapse.
Only Auguste continued to resist.
The opener battled hard for 91 from 139 balls, striking nine fours and two sixes in a determined innings that briefly delayed the inevitable.
But once Motie removed him for the crucial breakthrough, the contest was effectively over.
Permaul finishes it in style
With the Volcanoes reeling and defeat unavoidable, Permaul delivered the final blows.
The veteran spinner dismissed Darel Cyrus and Gilon Tyson from consecutive deliveries to bring the innings, and the match, to a swift conclusion.
He finished with outstanding figures of 4 for 20 to complement his unbeaten 82, capping a superb individual performance that shaped the match from start to finish.
Motie ended with 5 for 51, continuing his exceptional form and once again proving instrumental in Guyana’s dominance.
For the Volcanoes, what briefly threatened to become a competitive chase instead dissolved into another painful collapse as the Harpy Eagles tightened their hold on the championship race with a crushing victory.
