Permaul stars as Harpy Eagles smoke Volcanoes inside three days

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Led by a brilliant all-around performance by veteran Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyana Harpy Eagles demolished the Windward Islands Volcanoes inside three days to claim their second successive victory in the West Indies Championship yesterday.

Resuming the day on 361 for eight in their first innings in response to the Volcanoes’ 151, the Harpy Eagles’ last three batsmen added a remarkable 160 more runs to the total before finally being dismissed for 491, giving them a mammoth lead of 340.

Batting at number nine, Permaul scored an unbeaten 82, Shamar Joseph made 46 and last man Nial Smith chipped in with 37 to extend their team’s already sizeable advantage.

Permaul shared a 74-run partnership with Joseph and then added another 86 runs with Smith for the last wicket. In all, he faced 150 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes.

Gudakesh Motie, who snared 10 wickets in their opening encounter, then returned to claim 5-51, while Permaul pouched four wickets to instigate a Volcanoes collapse that saw them crumble from 105 for one to 199 all out.

Needing a big effort from their batters to avoid defeat, openers Ackeem Auguste and Stephan Pascal put on 40 runs for the first wicket before offspinner Richie Looknauth trapped the latter lbw for 16.

Kavem Hodge then shared a 65-run partnership for the second wicket with Auguste to help the Volcanoes progress to a comfortable position of 105 for one.

However, Motie stamped his mark on the proceedings by having Hodge caught behind for 27 and then bowling Johann Jeremiah for 11 to leave them 141 for three.

When Permaul claimed the wicket of Sunil Ambris for 15 to make the score 162 for four, it went downhill for the Volcanoes, with only Auguste’s fighting knock of 91 propping up the innings.

Motie had Shadrack Descarte caught behind for one and Noelle Leo for six, while Permaul dismissed Ryan John for seven, as the Volcanoes slipped to 183 for seven.

Three runs later, Motie snared the key wicket of Auguste after the opener had faced 139 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes, to effectively signal the end of the contest.

Permaul then brought the match to an end in style by dismissing Darel Cyrus and Gilon Tyson off consecutive deliveries to end with 4-20.