PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Guyana Harpy Eagles will launch their bid for a first Regional Super50 title in nearly two decades when they clash with Windward Islands Volcanoes in the headline game on Tuesday’s opening day of the tournament.
While reaching the final four times during that period, including twice in the last four years, Harpy Eagles still need to break their drought dating back to 2006.
Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who will be a crucial part of Harpy Eagles’ armory this year, will lead the side, which includes enigmatic left-hander Shimron Hetmyer, Test left-hander Tagenarine Chanderpaul and exciting West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd.
Last season, Harpy Eagles reached the semi-finals after finishing second in their group before crashing out in the semi-finals to eventual champions Jamaica Scorpions, who chased down 319 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
They will face formidable opponents in Volcanoes, the 2018 champions, who missed the final four last season after losing three of their six group games.
Notably, however, they beat Harpy Eagles in their opening game courtesy of left-hander Alick Athanaze’s splendid hundred – the left-hander once again in the Volcanoes line-up as vice-captain.
Alongside Athanaze, Volcanoes will have the likes of batsman Johnson Charles, all-rounder Kavem Hodge, and veteran opener Andre Fletcher, who will lead the unit.
The game begins at 1 p.m. at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
Queen’s Park Oval in the country’s capital will be the stage for the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, with hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force up against Combined Campuses and Colleges.
West Indies will lead Red Force to discard Darren Bravo and include West Indies Test stars Joshua Da Silva and Shannon Gabriel, with veteran off-spinner Sunil Narine also featuring.
However, missing is left-hander Nicholas Pooran, who led Red Force last year when they reached the final before going down to Scorpions.
CCC, the 2019 champions, will be led by ex-Test wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and have prolific 19-year-old left-hander Jordan Johnson in their ranks, who toured Sri Lanka last month with West Indies Under-19s.
The contest bowls off at 9 a.m.
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