By Travis Seymour
The Guyana Harpy Eagles, reigning regional four-day champions, have faced a challenging start to their title defense, currently sitting sixth on the West Indies four-day championship table after three rounds of play.
The Harpy Eagles began their campaign with a draw against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in game one, a result impacted by inclement weather.
However, their fortunes took a downturn in subsequent matches, suffering a heavy 273-run defeat to the Leeward Islands in the second round, followed by a 221-run loss against the West Indies Academy in round three.
The return of skipper Tevin Imlach and spinner Gudakesh Motie provided a boost for the team, but their efforts weren’t enough to secure victories.
In their recent game, Kevin Sinclair’s remarkable performance, including an unbeaten century and six wickets, offered a glimmer of hope for the Harpy Eagles, but it wasn’t sufficient to secure a win.
Despite their struggles, the Harpy Eagles have accumulated 26.4 points in the tournament, placing them in the sixth position on the table.
Meanwhile, the Windward Volcanoes lead the standings with an unbeaten record, having defeated the Combined Campuses and Colleges, Barbados, and Jamaica to amass 62.2 points.
Other notable performers in the championship include Jomel Warrican, leading the wicket-takers’ list with 19 scalps, and Mikyle Louis, the leading run-getter with 343 runs.
Looking ahead, the fourth round of matches is scheduled for March 13-16, with Guyana set to face Barbados at the St Augustine ground.
The Combined Campuses and Colleges will take on the Leewards Hurricanes at Diego Martin, while Trinidad and Tobago will clash with the Volcanoes at Queen’s Park Oval.
Despite their current standings, the Harpy Eagles remain determined to bounce back and reclaim their winning form as the championship progresses.