Permaul’s late strikes bring Harpy Eagles back into contention

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Evin Lewis stroked a crucial, unbeaten century for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, but three late wickets by veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul left defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles with a chance of retaining their West Indies Championship title.

Led by Lewis’s stabilising knock of 122 not out off 246 balls, the Red Force looked on track to end the day in the ascendancy until Permaul struck three times in the space of five overs to reduce them to 265 for eight — an overall lead of 278 runs — heading into Wednesday’s final day of play at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Those late wickets completely changed the complexion of the game, which at one stage looked like T&T’s to lose.

Coincidentally, it was the Harpy Eagles who took control of the match early on the penultimate day, with pacers Keemo Paul and Shamar Joseph accounting for the wickets of Cephas Cooper and Jyd Goolie for three and one respectively, to leave T&T 12 for two.

While both Lewis and Jason Mohammed have been short of runs in this year’s tournament, their 101-run partnership for the third wicket brought the match back on level terms.

However, Paul got the breakthrough when he trapped Mohammed lbw for 37.

Lewis then added a further 73 runs with Amir Jangoo, who made a fluent 48 off 66 balls, to see T&T accelerate to 186 for three.

Joseph returned to snare Jangoo’s wicket two runs short of a merited half-century and when Paul had captain Joshua Da Silva caught behind for 11, T&T slipped to 205 for five.

But once again, Lewis found a worthy partner, this time in the reliable Terrance Hinds, with their partnership adding 54 invaluable runs to push their overall lead over 250.

During their stand, Lewis reached his second first-class century and first in 10 years, by driving Nial Smith to midwicket for two runs off his 194th delivery, much to the delight of his teammates.

The pair looked set to carry T&T through to the end of play until Permaul’s late strikes turned the match on its heels.

The left-arm spinner first had Hinds caught for 23 and followed up by dismissing Khary Pierre for five to make the score 265 for seven.

Four balls later and without a run added, Permaul bowled first innings hero Jayden Seales for a duck with what turned out to be the last ball of the day.

Permaul finished with 3-13, while Paul has so far taken 3-47 and Joseph 2-86.