The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) opened their 2025 CWI First-Class Championship campaign in dominant fashion, securing an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Barbados Pride inside three days at the Providence Stadium. The match, filled with high-intensity moments and standout individual performances, reaffirmed Guyana’s reputation as one of the strongest forces in regional cricket.

As Guyana looks ahead to their next fixture against the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) next Wednesday, the team will need to build on this momentum while addressing key areas to ensure continued success in the tournament.

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Chanderpaul and Nandu Lead Guyana to Victory

Opening batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Nandu delivered an unbeaten half-century stand, comfortably steering Guyana to victory. Nandu finished with 33 not out, including three boundaries, while Chanderpaul anchored the innings with 40 not out, striking five fours in the process.

The Harpy Eagles had entered the final day in a strong position, having responded to Barbados’ first-innings 347 with 382, gaining a slim but crucial lead of 36 runs. While Barbados attempted to claw their way back into the contest, their batting faltered against Guyana’s disciplined bowling attack.

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Standout Performances and Key Turning Points

Kevlon Anderson and Kemol Savory Set the Tone

Middle-order batsman Kevlon Anderson played a pivotal role, scoring a century (101 from 157 balls, 15 fours) to give Guyana the first-innings edge. Meanwhile, Kemol Savory was agonizingly dismissed on 99, just one run short of his own milestone. Their 185-run partnership was the backbone of Guyana’s innings and set up the team for success.

However, the collapse after Anderson and Savory’s dismissals highlighted a long-standing issue for Guyana—ensuring middle and lower-order stability. Once Forde dismissed Savory, wickets tumbled quickly, with only Ali-Mohammed’s aggressive 35 from 32 balls adding some resistance.

Bowling Brilliance from Looknauth and Permaul

Bowling has always been Guyana’s strength, and this match reaffirmed it. Looknauth Chinkoo, on debut, claimed match figures of 8-138, taking four wickets in each innings, proving his potential as a key bowler for the team moving forward.

Veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul also played a crucial role, applying pressure in the second innings and trapping Barbados’ captain Raymond Reifer LBW for 37, ensuring that Guyana stayed in control.

Barbados was ultimately bowled out cheaply, leaving Guyana with a straightforward chase that Chanderpaul and Nandu completed with ease.

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How Guyana Can Maintain Their Dominance in Upcoming Matches

While this 10-wicket win is a major confidence boost, Guyana needs to refine certain aspects of their game to defend their title successfully.

Strengthen the Middle and Lower Order

• While Anderson and Savory were excellent, Guyana’s lower order collapsed too easily, with four of the last six wickets falling for single-digit scores.
• More consistency is needed from experienced players like Anthony Adams and Permaul in pressure situations.
• Ali-Mohammed’s aggressive style is useful, but the team needs at least one more batter in the lower order who can stabilize the innings.

Capitalize on Small First-Innings Leads

• The 36-run first-innings lead was useful, but the team must convert slim leads into dominant match positions.
• This means pushing beyond 400 runs whenever possible to bat opposition teams out of the game early.

Ensure Pace and Spin Bowling Combination Works Throughout the Tournament

• Looknauth’s outstanding debut has added much-needed balance to Guyana’s bowling attack, but he will need to maintain his rhythm.
• With fast bowler Isai Thorne missing from this match, Guyana must ensure their pace attack remains strong and consistent to complement their quality spinners.

Maintain Aggressive Captaincy and Tactical Adjustments

• The decision to apply pressure on Barbados early in their second innings paid off, and similar aggression will be required against CCC next week.
• Timely bowling changes and field placements will be crucial in tougher matches.

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Guyana’s Title Defense Continues: What to Expect Against CCC

The defending champions will return to action next Wednesday at the Providence Stadium, where they will take on Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC).

Key points ahead of the match:

• CCC is an unpredictable team with young, talented players eager to prove themselves.
• Guyana must not take CCC lightly, as complacency can be dangerous in First-Class cricket.
• Maintaining the intensity and discipline from the Barbados victory will be key to securing another dominant performance.

Guyana’s championship-winning experience gives them an advantage, but with stronger teams like Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands also in contention, every match will be a crucial step toward defending their First-Class title.

With a combination of experienced players, young talent, and tactical improvements, the Harpy Eagles are well-positioned to dominate regional cricket once again—but they must learn from each victory and refine their game for the bigger challenges ahead.