Leaders Volcanoes face in-form Harpy Eagles in fifth round

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

WINDWARD ISLANDS Volcanoes enter the fifth round of the West Indies Championship with a slim lead, and with a difficult assignment against multiple-time champions Guyana Harpy Eagles at Coolidge Cricket Ground today.

Unbeaten before their fourth-round defeat to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain last week, Volcanoes now take on a Harpy Eagles unit finding their feet with back-to-back victories in the campaign.

Harpy Eagles are sixth on 46.2 points and enter the fixture on the heels of a massive win over Barbados Pride.

Volcanoes, with victories in their first three fixtures of the tournament, top the standings with 67.4 points, narrowly ahead of second-place Leeward Islands Hurricanes on 64.2.

They were let down by their batting against T&T despite half-centuries from captain Alick Athanaze, opener Jeremy Solozano and veteran Sunil Ambris, and will be hoping for an improved performance against Harpy Eagles.

Hurricanes, meanwhile, face Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park in Kingston, aware that a victory could put them top of the tables if Volcanoes slip up.

They are coming off a three-wicket victory over Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners at Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine, a win that was preceded by a four-wicket win over Red Force at Warner Park in Basseterre.

For their part, Scorpions have also found their touch, following a lukewarm start to the campaign, and are now up to third place on 50.2 points, after an edgy two-wicket win over CWI Academy in the last round.

Pride, who lie fourth on 48.2 points, take on Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval, the hosts only a single point behind their opponents.

The Kraigg Brathwaite-led Pride have endured a topsy-turvy campaign, winning their opener against Marooners, losing their second outing to Volcanoes, bouncing back against Scorpions before losing to Harpy Eagles in the last round.

In the other fifth-round game starting on Wednesday, Marooners (30.8) clash with CWI Academy (19.8) at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground.

Today’s West Indies Championship Games

• Jamaica Scorpions vs Leeward Island Hurricanes – Sabina Park, Kingston

• Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Windward Volcanoes – Coolidge Cricket Ground, St John’s

• CCC Marooners vs CWI Academy – Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine

• Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Barbados Pride – Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain