Kevlon Anderson of Guyana Harpy Eagles bats through the regional four-day match in opposition to Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park on Wednesday. (Picture: Joseph Wellington)
Odean Smith believes Jamaica Scorpions are simply an arm’s size away from taking the ascendancy after being put to the sword by Guyana Harpy Eagles on the opening day of the regional first-class match at Sabina Park.
At stumps on Wednesday’s opening day, the title-holders Harpy Eagles, who had been powered by Kevlon Anderson’s fluent century, had been 260-5.
Smith ended the day with 3-46 because the Scorpions rallied to say 4 wickets within the ultimate session
“I feel we got here again nicely within the final session,” the tempo bowler informed the Jamaica Observer on the shut.
“The blokes put in an excellent battle, so we simply have to come back again and get these 5 remaining wickets. As soon as we will get these wickets earlier than lunch or after lunch we’d undoubtedly be within the recreation.”
He stated he was “very stunned” by how the grass-covered pitch performed on day one after Guyana received the toss and batted.
“The wicket may be very flat, we didn’t get the quantity of bounce we wished from the wicket, although the ball was seaming within the final session,” Smith, 28, defined.
Kevlon Anderson, who was compelled to retire harm within the ultimate session after rolling his ankle, made a good 100. The 24-year-old proper hander was free-scoring all through but in addition strong in defence whereas hitting 10 fours and a six off 161 deliveries.
“We might have most well-liked to have misplaced possibly two wickets fewer however it’s nonetheless an excellent place to construct on,” Anderson informed the Observer earlier than noting that he expects to have the ability to bat if required on Thursday.
He was happy with how he tailored on a floor that was livelier than what he would usually expertise in Guyana.
“It is a case of laborious work paying off. The pitch had extra bounce and tempo [than surfaces in Guyana] however I feel I adjusted nicely and caught to my recreation and it went nicely. I waited for balls that had been bowled in my space and it labored nicely. The pitch performed nicely, it’s good for batting,” he reasoned.
Earlier, the Harpy Eagles opted to bat first in sunny circumstances on a pitch that had a wholesome layer of grass.
The choice proved to be an excellent one for Guyana as they dominated the primary day of the fourth-round contest.
The left-hand opening pair of Matthew Nandu and Tagenarine Chanderpaul appeared comfy on a floor that introduced few terrors for the batsmen.
However not lengthy earlier than lunch, Chanderpaul was trapped leg earlier than wicket by Smith for 32 with the rating on 55.
Anderson joined Nandu and the 2 carried the Harpy Eagles all through the complete post-lunch session with out dropping a wicket.
Anderson was the extra aggressive batsman, whereas on the different finish, the left-hander Nandu was extra affected person in his strategy.
After they’d added 137 for the second wicket, Nandu was dismissed when teenage leg spinner Tamarie Redwood had him stumped by wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas early within the ultimate session. He struck 61, inclusive of 5 fours off 195 balls.
Anderson went on to achieve his second hundred of the season however quickly after he was limping off the sector when he hurting his ankle whereas working between the wickets.
The Scorpions bowlers appeared to get a psychological bounce thereafter, and started to get extra from the older ball.
They had been in a position to dismiss skipper Tevin Imlach (16), Kevin Sinclair (7) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (10) because the Harpy Eagles slipped to 251-5.
Kemol Savory and Gudakesh Motie, on 18 and 6, respectively, are the not out batsman for the Harpy Eagles.
Redwood, although responsible of bowling too many full tosses, has to this point supplied Smith the perfect assist with the ball, ending the day with 2-89.
— Sanjay Myers
