Kevin Sinclair played a heroic inning to save the Guyana Harpy Eagles from defeat against Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Grenada National Stadium on Saturday. The allrounder made a career-best unbeaten half-century which helped Guyana sneak a draw in a tense draw in the second round of the West Indies Championship four-day first-class match.
Resuming the rain-interrupted final day on 35 without loss in pursuit of 294, Harpy Eagles tumbled to 211-9 just over an hour after tea, to be staring at defeat. However, the 23-year-old Sinclair in only his 10th first-class match held his nerve to hit an unbeaten 77 and frustrate Volcanoes’ victory bid.
More importantly, he found magnificent support from last man Ronsford Beaton who survived nearly an hour over 24 balls for his one not out, helping to put on 39 in a vital last-wicket partnership.
Scorecard: https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/215145/#scorecard
Sinclair stood tall, as he faced 138 deliveries in nearly three hours at the crease and hit nine fours and a six, the knock of his second first-class fifty. When the umpires halted play for bad light at 5:48 pm with five overs left, Harpy Eagles had battled to 250-9.
Earlier, two half-century stands held the innings together for the visitors, thanks to 19-year-old opener Matthew Nandu who struck 60 and captain Leon Johnson who made 40.
The left-handed Nandu extended his overnight opening stand with Tevin Imlach (25) to 54 before two wickets fell in quick time to leave Harpy Eagles on 68-2. Nandu, who hit six fours off 123 balls and a shade over 3-½ hours, held the innings together in a 55-run stand with Johnson whose breezy entertainment came off just 50 balls and included five fours and a six.
Both were part of a slide triggered by fast bowler Preston McSween (3-58) which saw three wickets go down for 18 runs, and leave the innings in peril on 141-5 before Sinclair and Beaton saved the match.