A fine all-round effort from Saint Lucia’s Shadrack Descarte helped script an unlikely victory for the Windward Islands Volcanoes, to open their 2024 Cricket West Indies (CWI) CG United Super50 Cup campaign with a win on Tuesday.
The Volcanoes defeated the Guyana Harpy Eagles by a single wicket with only three wickets remaining at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad & Tobago. Guyana Harpy Eagles won the toss and elected to bat first.
Guyana made 274-5 from 50 overs. Tagenarine Chanderpaul (49) and Matthew Nandu (34) partnered for 83 off the first 22.5 overs, before Descarte captured both wickets within two overs. Kemol Savory (3) and Kevin Sinclair (14) did not last long.
But Harpy Eagles captain Tevin Imlach hit 65 not out off 67 balls, and Kevlon Anderson added 42 off 39. But it was Keemo Paul, coming in with only 42 balls remaining, who really set up the Guyanese total. He smashed 54 unbeaten off 29 balls with six sixes.
Descarte finished with 2-53 from eight overs. Kenneth Dember was none for 12 from seven overs, a remarkable economy rate. Barbados’ Shamar Springer conceded 29 from his six overs, whilst Gilon Tyson was 1-30 off six.
The Windwards response got off to an indifferent start, Jeremy Solozano (6), Stephan Pascal (0), Kavem Hodge (4), Sunil Ambris (19), and Springer (2) all dismissed by the 12th over, and the sub-regional team floundering at 58-5.
Descarte, along with wicketkeeper Dillon Douglas, added 81 runs from 81 balls. The 27-year-old Descarte was dismissed for 60 runs from 62 balls, including seven fours and a six.
Douglas, playing just his second career List A game, added 90 from 100 balls, with eight fours and two sixes. Darel Cyrus and Kenneth Dember closed things out with 29 from 27, and 20 from 18, respectively.
The Volcanoes got to 277-9. Pacer Nial Smith took 3-46 off 9.4 overs while Kevin Sinclair took 2-66 off his 10 overs.
The Windwards Volcanoes will face the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on November 1.
Full Scores:
Guyana Harpy Eagles 274-5 off 50 overs (Tevin Imlach 65*, Keemo Paul 54*, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 49, Kevlon Anderson 42, Shadrack Descarte 2-53)
Windward Islands Volcanoes 277-9 off 49.3 overs (Dillon Douglas 90, Shadrack Descarte 60, Nial Smith 3-46, Kevin Sinclair 2-66).
PHOTO: Shadrack Descarte (Left)
