Matthew Nandu – The 592 Dugout

Squads announced for third round of West Indies Championship

Members of the West Indies Test squads from the recent tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa are expected to feature in the upcoming matches in the West Indies Championship. Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the six franchise squads for the third round of matches which start on Wednesday 15 March.

Left-handed batter Alick Athanaze will return to captain Windward Islands Volcanoes against Jamaica Scorpions, who will have experienced batter Nkrumah Bonner back in their line-up for the match at the Guyana National Stadium.

Devon Thomas, the versatile wicket-keeper/batter, has been named in the Leeward Islands Hurricanes 13-member squad for the match against Barbados Pride at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. The third match of the third round will see Trinidad & Tobago Red Force hosting the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Entering the third round, Athanaze is among the leading batters with 244 runs (average 61). He made his maiden first-class century (141) against Guyana Harpy Eagles last month. He is second spot behind Trinidad & Tobago Red Force skipper Daren Bravo who has scored 261 runs (average 87) – which included twin centuries against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Third in the list are young openers Kimani Melius of Windward Islands Volcanoes and Matthew Nandu of Guyana Harpy Eagles, who both have 204 runs (average 51). Both scored breakthrough maiden first-class centuries in the first round – Melius made 192 against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Nandu got 126 against Barbados Pride. Melius will however miss the third round with an injury.

In the bowling, the leading wicket-taker after two rounds is Akeem Jordan, the Barbados Pride pacer, who picked up 12 wickets and was named in the Test squad for the tour of South Africa. Next is Veerasammy Permaul, the experienced Guyana Harpy Eagles left-arm spinner with 11 wickets – which included his 500th at the first-class level for his country. Three bowlers are tied on 10 wickets – Rahkeem Cornwall of Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Ryan John of Windward Islands Volcanoes and Bryan Charles of Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.

Every West Indies Championship match will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can follow every game from their mobile devices, computers or connected TVs, including access to live ball-by-ball scoring on the windiescricket.com match centre.

The new Headley Weekes Series will follow the West Indies Championship and will feature three matches and three teams. Team Headley and Team Weekes will select from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team in the new Series.

WEST INDIES CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 3 – FULL SQUADS:

Barbados Pride: Shane Dowrich (captain), Camarie Boyce, Jonathan Carter, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Chaim Holder, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Shayne Moseley, Roshon Primus, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer, Kevin Wickham

Guyana Harpy Eagles: Leon Johnson (captain), Antony Adams, Kevlon Anderson, Anthony Bramble, Ronsford Beaton, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Matthew Nandu, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemol Savory, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith

Jamaica Scorpions: Paul Palmer jr. (captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Tevin Gilzene, Derval Green, Nicholson Gordon, Patrick Harty, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Abhijai Mansingh, Jamie Merchant, Marquino Mindley, Ojay Shields, Aldaine Thomas

Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Jahmar Hamilton (captain), Colin Archibald, Larry Audain, Sheeno Berridge, Rahkeem Cornwall, Karima Gore, Montcin Hodge, Kofi James, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Akeem Saunders, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh jr.

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Daren Bravo (captain), Bryan Charles, Jyd Goolie, Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Justin Mannick, Jason Mohammed, Vikash Mohan, Uthman Muhammad, Khary Pierre, Keagan Simmons, Jeremy Solozano, Tion Webster

Windward Islands Volcanoes: Alick Athanaze (captain), Sunil Ambris, Teddy Bishop, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Johan Jeremiah, Ryan John, Shermon Lewis, Preston McSween, Jerlani Robinson, Tevyn Walcott

WEST INDIES CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

ROUND 1

Guyana Harpy Eagles beat Barbados Pride by 183 runs

Windward Islands Volcanoes drew with Trinidad & Tobago Red Force

Leeward Islands Hurricanes drew with Jamaica Scorpions

ROUND 2

Barbados Pride beat Jamaica Scorpions by 6 wickets

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force drew with Leeward Islands Hurricanes

Windward Islands Volcanoes drew with Guyana Harpy Eagles

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

GNS – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

BLCA – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

QPO – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

ROUND 3: 15 to 18 March

Jamaica Scorpions v Windward Islands Volcanoes at GNS

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Guyana Harpy Eagles at BLCA

Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Barbados Pride at QPO

ROUND 4: 22 to 25 March

Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Jamaica Scorpions at GNS

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride at QPO

Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA

ROUND 5: 29 March to 1 April

Guyana Harpy Eagles v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at GNS

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Jamaica Scorpions at BLCA

Barbados Pride v Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO

Headley Weekes Tri-Series

All matches to be played at CCG, Antigua

Match 1: 19 to 22 April: Team Headley v West Indies Academy

Match 2: 26 to 29 April: Team Weekes v West Indies Academy

Match 3: 3 to 6 May: Team Weekes v Team Headley

Smith 2nd innings fifer fires Harpy Eagles to victory over Barbados Pride – WI Championship

By Michelangelo Jacobus

A fiery spell after lunch from Guyana Harpy Eagles pacer Nial Smith ensured that his side recorded a big win in their first round encounter against the defending champions Barbados Pride at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday afternoon.

Smith’s 2nd innings figures of 5/31 (10 Overs) vindicated the Harpy Eagles’ skipper Leon Johnson’s decision to bat first as the previously dull pitch came alive on the fourth and final day of the match. Smith’s performance complemented the first innings effort of 19-year-old debutant Matthew Nandu who set the platform for the win with his excellent 126 on debut.

Earlier in the day, the Guyanese batting order collapsed in a heap as the Barbados pacers got the ball to move with poor shot selections not helping either. Seamers Akeem Jordan and Keon Harding were the destroyers-in-chief sharing six wickets between them with 3-apiece. Veteran Veerasammy Permaul and Smith had the highest partnership of the Guyanese 2nd innings and when the former was bowled by Chaim Holder, the Guyana Harpy Eagles declared at 126/9 leaving Barbados staring at a total of 278 for an unlikely victory.

Enter Smith; he began proceedings by getting first innings top scorer Sheyne Mosely to nick one to wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble for a duck in the second over while Shamar Joseph trapped Zachary McCaskie LBW in the very next over. However Jonathan Drakes and Shamarh Brooks looked to steady the ship and took their side from 9/2 to 30 before Brooks became Ronsford Beaton’s first victim.

The beginning of the end for the defending champions came courtesy of Veerasammy Permaul who snared the scalps of Nicolas Kirton and Shamar Springer in the 19th over to take his career tally to 504 wickets (the highest by a Guyanese bowler). Then Beaton added his second wicket of the innings when he sent back the Bajan skipper, a wounded Shane Dowrich for a two-ball duck to leave Barbados in serious trouble at 38/6.

Drakes (36) and Akeem Jordan (20) offered a brief resistance but the return of Smith sealed their end. He had Jordan holing out to Kevin Sinclair, then Drakes followed in similar fashion, caught by Permaul while Harding was also dismissed via a catch. Fittingly Smith sealed his five-wicket haul and a resounding win for the Guyana Harpy Eagles by bowling Jair McAllister to end the Barbados innings at 94 (36 overs).

SCORES: Guyana Harpy Eagles – 371 & 126/9 Declared, Barbados Pride – 220/9 & 94 All out

Guyana won by 183 runs.

Nandu’s debut ton puts Guyana in command on Day 2 – WI Championship

Guyana Harpy Eagles’ young debutant opener Matthew Nandu stroked a rock-solid century to mark his entry into regional four-day cricket and put his team in charge at stumps on day 2 of their first round encounter with defending champions Barbados Pride.

Resuming with their side on 205/5, Nandu and Kevin Sinclair added a further 20 runs to their partnership before the latter fell 7 runs short of a half-century edging Jair McAllister to stand-in skipper and wicket-keeper Shamarh Brooks.

Veteran Veerasammy Permaul joined Nandu and together they put on a 90-run 7th-wicket partnership to flatten the Barbados Pride bowling unit. Nandu’s century was brought up just before lunch with a savage cut off the bowling of Keon Harding.

Shortly after lunch, the partnership was broken as Permaul now on the offensive, holed out to McAllister to give Keon Harding what would be his only wicket of the innings. Now in his 8th partnership, Nandu and fellow debutant Shamar Joseph further frustrated the Bajans and added 39 before Nandu’s marathon knock came to an end with the total at 354. The youngster’s 126 spanned 331 deliveries, and included 14 boundaries.

His wicket reinvigorated the Barbados Pride bowlers and they wrapped up the remaining two wickets for just 17 runs but Nandu had already done the damage.

In reply, Barbados openers Zachary McCaskie and Sheyne Moseley put on a valuable 69 run opening stand. However McCaskie would be the first wicket to fall, holing out to Chandrapaul Hemraj off the bowling of spinner Kevin Sinclair.

Jonathan Drakes followed quickly, trapped LBW to Permaul for duck. Moseley would push on to register a dogged 65 before he made his way back to the pavilion giving Shamar Joseph his first wicket at this level, he was out caught behind.

At stumps, Barbados Pride were105/3, still 266 runs adrift of the Harpy Eagles first innings total.

Scores:

Guyana Harpy Eagles 1st Innings 371 (121.1 Overs), Matthew Nandu 126, Kevin Sinclair 43, Jair McAllister 3/43.

Barbados Pride 105/3 (39 Overs) Sheyne Moseley 69, McCaskie 26, Veerasammy Permaul 1/18, Shamar Joseph 1/20, Kevin Sinclair 1/26

Nandu, dropped catches frustrate Barbados on day 1 – West Indies Championship

Highly touted as one for the future, Guyana Harpy Eagles 19-year-old debutant Matthew Nandu played with patience, class and composure that belies his age to frustrate Barbados at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua & Barbuda with an unbeaten 71 on day one of their first round encounter.

At stumps, the Harpy Eagles were on 205/5 (76.4 Overs) after winning the toss and electing to bat. The morning session was cut short due to a Keon Harding delivery which tore a chunk of the turf out of the pitch which then had to be repaired by the ground staff. In that shortened session, openers Nandu and Chandrapaul Hemraj navigated their side to lunch (at 29) without loss. However, Barbados Pride would be left ruing a couple of dropped catches which enabled the Harpy Eagles to push on.

Shortly after lunch, Hemraj and Tevin Imlach would fall quickly to leave the Harpy Eagles wobbling at 35/2. First, Hemraj fell LBW to seamer Jair McAllister then Imlach had to return to the pavilion without troubling the scorers also via the LBW route off the bowling of Akeem Jordan.

From thereon out, it was the Nandu show as he strung together useful partnerships with fellow debutant Kemol Savoury, skipper Leon Johnson and Anthony Bramble, who all made starts but failed to bat on.

Savoury (25) and Nandu combined to take the Harpy Eagles to 80 before the aggressive wicket-keeper batsman nicked spinner Chaim Holder to Shane Dowrich to end his first innings at the regional level. In strode the under pressure Johnson who looked attractive in his innings of 26 and it was only fitting that he was at the non-striker’s end when Nandu brought up his maiden fifty on the stroke of tea to raucous applause from his teammates. However, after the break, Johnson too, fell to Holder with the score at 126/4.

The ever consistent Anthony Bramble did all the hard work at the beginning of his innings only to give his wicket away with a nothing shot as he fell for 20 caught by McAllister of the bowling of Jordan. At that point, the Guyana Harpy Eagles looked vulnerable with the total at 163/5 but all-rounder Kevin Sinclair and the increasingly confident Nandu took the fight to a waning Pride attack.

Their partnership worth 45, Sinclair (28 not out) and Nandu guided the Harpy Eagles to the close of play with the score at 205/5 (76.4 Overs), albeit not without incident, as an edge from Nandu seemed to carry to Akeem Jordan, but the umpires correctly ruled not out which replays vindicated as the ball appeared to bounce before entering Jordan’s grasp. Nandu will resume his innings on day two at 71 (219 deliveries and 9 boundaries).

(Day 1 Stumps: Guyana Harpy Eagles 205/5 – Matthew Nandu 71 not out, Kevin Sinclair 28)

Nedd, Savoury, Joseph & Nandu earn Guyana Harpy Eagles call-up

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has announced a 13-man squad for the first and second rounds of the West Indies Championship, 2023. The squad sees four newcomers in promising young opener Matthew Nandu, wicket-keeper/batsman Kemol Savoury, exciting young fast bowler Shamar Joseph and spinner Ashmead Nedd. On the flipside, there is a notable absentee in experienced middle-order batsman Vishaul Singh.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles will play Barbados Pride at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, from February 1 to February 4, and Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Stadium in Grenada from February 8 to February 11.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles squad is: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmead Nedd and Shamar Joseph.

The Manager is Albert Clements, Head Coach Ryan Hercules, Assistant Coach Garvin Nedd, Cricket Analyst Keshava Ramphal and Physiotherapist Angelica Holder.

Reserves: Mavindra Dindyal, Kevlon Anderson, Demetri Cameron, Richie Looknauth and Antony Adams.

Prior to the expected Guyana Harpy Eagles departure on Sunday, January 29, the squad and reserves will be engaged in training sessions from Monday (January 23) to Friday(January 27) at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Harpy Eagles Practice Match 2: Nandu & Motie performances highlight day 1

With play set to resume today, a patient half-century from young opening batsman Matthew Nandu and miserly figures of 3/8 (8.4 Overs) from Gudakesh Motie highlighted day one of the 2nd Guyana Harpy Eagles practice match at the Providence National Stadium.

Earlier yesterday, Tevin Imlach’s XI won the toss and elected to take first strike against the Gudakesh Motie XI. Nandu along with veteran Chandrapaul Hemraj got Imlach’s XI off to a flyer. Hemraj was the aggressor racing to 46 from 36 deliveries before he got out with the score at 72. From there on out, wickets fell at regular intervals as Imlach (11) and Kevlon Anderson (5) both came and went. The returning Leon Johnson joined Nandu and together they guided their side from 90/3 to 140 before Nandu fell for a well composed 50 courtesy of Ronaldo Mohamed-Ali.

Johnson (25) along with Akshaya Persaud (22) and Shamar Yearwood (37) were the only other batsmen to get scores worthy of note as all the others fell cheaply.

For the bowling side, Motie led from the front as the chief destroyer and was well supported by spinners Junior Sinclair (2/33) and Richie Looknauth (2/29) while Ashmeade Nedd, Mohamed-Ali and Nial Smith took a wicket apiece.

In response at stumps, Motie’s XI was trailing by 180 runs on 46/2 having lost opener Rampertab Ramnauth (24) and night watchman Ronsford Beaton (4). When play resumes today, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12 not out) and Mavindra Dindyal (6 not out) will resume the innings.

Day 1: Imlach XI won the toss & elected to bat

Scores: Imlach XI 1st Innings- 226 All Out (Nandu 50, Motie 3/8)

(Close of Play) Gudakesh Motie X1: 46 for 2 (12 overs) trail by 180 runs

U-19 cricketers Nandu & Thorne return home with invaluable experience

Guyanese Under-19 players, Matthew Nandu and Isai Thorne returned home on Sunday, September 19, 2021, after participating in the just-concluded West Indies tour of England. The two players proudly touched down on home soil after impressive performances in England.
Although West Indies won only two of six matches in the Youth ODI series, both players made noteworthy contributions to the West Indies challenging efforts. Matthew Nandu finished on a high by registering consecutive half centuries in two of the five matches he played. In his penultimate match, Nandu stroked 51, then in the final match followed up with a superb knock of 80 and bowling returns of 2 for 35, as West Indies won their second match of the series to restore some regional pride.
Young fast bowling sensation Isai Thorne was also impressive: At the tender age of 16, he demonstrated the ability, skill and mental tenacity to become an outstanding West Indies fast bowler. Evidently, Thorne received the full confidence of his captain and coach by twice being given the opportunity to bowl the total allotment of overs for a bowler. In two of the four matches he played, Thorne grabbed three wickets to finish the series with 8 wickets and leave a buzz of high expectations.
The members of the GCB expect that the unwavering commitment of Nandu and Thorne coupled with their ability and skill will make them forces to be reckoned with in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022 and beyond. The GCB will continue to provide the necessary support to these two and other players to ensure their competitive readiness for the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022.

Nandu’s all-round brilliance hands Dem U-19s the win over Essequibo

The Guyana Cricket Board/Hand In Hand 2020 U1-9 Inter County Tournament got off to an exciting start today at the LBI ground, East Coast Demerara.

Demerara won the toss and decided to bat. However, the Essequibo bowlers presented a challenge to the Demerara batsmen, limiting them to an unexpected reasonable score of 162 for 8 off reduced allotment of overs to 38, to facilitate Essequibo’s travel.

Opening batsman Matthew Nandu stroke a consolidated 53, inclusive of 4 fours, in 147 minutes at the crease off of 97 balls. Number 3 batsman, Ushardeva Balgobin was the other major contributor with the bat, who in 89 minutes at the crease, slammed 45 off of 59 balls, in a knock which includes 4 fours and 2 sixes.

However, in the over prior to his dismissal, Balgobin was adjudged not out by the ruling umpire, on a controversial diving catch by Azim Mohamed about three feet inside the mid-wicket boundary. The only other batsman to reach double figures, was sensational youth national batsman Mavendra Dindyal who stroked an entertaining 27 off 37 balls in 52 minutes, including of 2 fours.

Fast bowler Jason Holder bowled impressively to finish with figures of 2 for 28 from 7 overs with one maiden, inclusive of national youth opener Sachin Singh for duck and Dwain Dick for 4. Wazim Mohamed was the other main wicket taker with 2 for 26 from 5 overs. Mohamed dismissed Andrew Samaroo and wicket keeper, Shamar Yearwood, for 6 and 5 respectively.

In reply, Essequibo struggled to make a resounding impact, scraping their way to 86 all out off 27.2 of their allotted 38 overs. Sheldon Charles batting at number 3, provided some initial resistance for the Essequibians with his 51 minutes knock of 25 off 33 balls. Nicko Vincent was the only other Essequibo batsman to reach double figures with, 12. Bowling for Demerara, Dwain Dick led the way with 3 for 15 from 7 overs, which included 2 maidens.

Chaitram Balgobin took 2 for 10 from 2 overs, while Man of the Match, Matthew Nandu returned figures of 2 for 21 from 5.2 overs, to add to his half-century. Richard Jhoda picked up a single wicket for 5 runs as Demerara won the match by 76 runs.

The second round will see Berbice competing with Essequibo on Friday (February 12) at the LBI ground from 08:45 hrs.