Harpy Eagles begin title defence with win

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The Guyana Harpy Eagles began their title defence in the 2026 West Indies Championship in winning fashion with a four-wicket win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday.

Tevin Imlach played a captain’s knock, leading from the front to ensure the victory.

Imlach scored a crucial 82, and together with Matthew Nandu, who made 58, set the platform for the Harpy Eagles’ successful run chase, the defending champions ending on 233 for six in 78.4 overs.

Resuming the day on 38 for one, with Imlach on 27, the visitors would have been favourites to get the 194 more runs required for victory.

Through the efforts of Imlach and Nandu, the Harpy Eagles strengthened their position with the pair putting on a further 100 runs to help their side dominate the morning session.

Imlach looked set to reach a century before pacer Ryan John broke the partnership by trapping him lbw to bring an end to his innings that spanned 147 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Nandu’s patient innings that saw him face 182 balls and contained six boundaries, came to an end soon after when medium pacer Kenneth Dember had him caught to leave the score 155 for three.

The Harpy Eagles suffered a slight scare when they lost Kemol Savory, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Keemo Paul fairly cheaply, but bowling hero Gudakesh Motie came to their rescue with a counter-attacking, unbeaten 23 off just 13 balls that sealed the deal.

John (2-48) and Dember (2-75) were the best bowlers for the Volcanoes.