Sports

Guyana Harpy Eagles win West Indies Championship Title

Leon Johnson “proud” to lift Headley Weekes Trophy in his final match

Georgetown, Guyana – Guyana Harpy Eagles secured a thrilling 17-run victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to win the West Indies Championship title and claim the Headley-Weekes Trophy. Kevin Sinclair’s six-wicket haul sealed the deal for Guyana as they bowled out Leewards for 125 on the fourth and final morning on Saturday at Guyana National Stadium.

Off-spinner Sinclair’s career-best figures of 6-33 from 16.5 overs combined with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who took 3-44, as nine wickets fell on the final morning. Captain Leon Johnson had the honor of raising the Headley-Weekes Trophy, capping off the final day of his professional career. The presentation was done by Enoch Lewis, Director of Cricket West Indies.

“This was a great performance … a great team performance and I’m massively proud of everyone who contributed towards us winning. We worked hard before the season, and we worked hard throughout this season. We were really tested in this final match, and we responded to the challenge with a magnificent win,” Johnson said.

“One of the great things about the season was the progress made by the young players in the team. As various time they stood up with major performances and that was great to see. We made progress. Also, tribute to the senior players who also led from the front, offered invaluable advice and made my job as captain easier on and off the field. Thanks to the fans and all those persons who backed us from start to finish. As a proud Guyanese I retire from the game lifting this prestigious trophy and also happy that I can bring smiles to the faces of the supporters.”

Chasing 143 to win, the Hurricanes started the day on 81-1, and at 91-1, they looked set for a comfortable victory. However, Sinclair’s incredible spell of bowling removed two key Hurricanes batsmen and caused a collapse that led to their defeat.

Guyana ended the tournament with 84.0 points, Windward Islands Volcanoes were second on 74.2 points, while last year’s champions Barbados Pride ended third on 55.6 points.

Looking ahead, the new Headley Weekes Series will feature two teams drawn from the top performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The two teams will play each other and the West Indies Academy in a three-match Series running from April 18 to May 6, to be played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

POINTS STANDINGS

Guyana Harpy Eagles – 84

Windward Islands Volcanoes – 74.2

Barbados Pride – 55.6

T&T Red Force – 49.4

Leeward Islands Hurricanes – 46.2

Jamaica Scorpions – 25.6

LEADING PERFORMERS

Most Runs – Alick Athanaze (647)

Most Wickets – Rahkeem Cornwall (35)

Most Dismissals- Jahmar Hamilton 19 (17 catches, 2 stumpings)

Most Catches -Zachary McCaskie (13)

Sports

BARBADOS WINS CWI RISING STARS UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP

by David Harris

Defending champions Barbados defeated Guyana by 44 runs to retain their title in Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-19 Championship at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua on Wednesday.

Needing to avoid defeat in their fifth and final match of the tournament to clinch the title, the Barbadian lads scored 209 for eight wickets, before bowling out Guyana for 160 in 45.3 overs.

Barbados were wobbling at 71 for four wickets, after winning the toss and opting to bat. Captain Justin Parris made an attractive 38 runs from 40 balls, the left-handed batsman struck five fours, but his dismissal in the sixteenth over left Barbados in a precarious position. Seth Smith (47) and Rajeev Parsooram (21) repaired the early damage with a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 61 runs, before Parsooram was dismissed by left-arm pacer Brandon Henry.

After Parsooram’s wicket fell; Smith added 40 vital runs for the sixth wicket with Yuvraj Persaud who made 19, Smith’s rearguard inning ended innings ended when he was dismissed by Henry in the 43rd over, the wicketkeeper/ batsman faced 75 balls and counted four boundaries. Asher Brandford 18 and Zarell Harding 15 not out ensured that Barbados posted a total over 200 runs.

Medium pacer Reyaz Laif took three wickets for 34 runs, he was supported by fast bowler Usain Fredericks two wickets for 53 runs,, and Henry who picked up two wickets for 24 runs.

Chasing 210 for victory, Guyana slumped to 55 for five wickets in the 17^th over as the Bajan bowlers took early wickets; but a defiant knock of 50 runs from Henry briefly give the Guyanese hope. Henry faced 88 balls and lead a lower resistance that saw Guyana to 156 for eight wickets before he was bowled by Parsooram. After Henry was dismissed Guyana’s innings ended quickly.

Brandford captured three wickets for 19 runs with his medium pace; he was supported by fellow medium pacers Joshua Thomas and Parsooram with two wickets for 35 runs and 19 runs respectively, while Parris picked up two wickets with his leg-spin.

Sports

JAYDEN WINS GOLD AT CARIFTA GAMES

by David Harris

Jayden Green captured Barbados’ lone gold medal at the 52nd CARIFTA Games which ended at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Mucrapo, Trinidad on Monday night. The 17-year-old student of the Christ Church Foundation School won the Under-20 Boys’ 200 metres at the three -day track and field meeting in 20,93 seconds ahead of Jamaicans Tyreece Foreman (20.95) and Junior Galimore (21.01); Green is the first Barbadian to win the event since Mario Burke in 2015.

The rest of team collected five silver and eight bronze medals with several athletes recording personal best. Barbados won 14 medals at the games, their best performance since the 2016 Games in Grenada where they won 20 medals.

Sports

GET READY FOR THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Calendar lists all the events from May to September 2025

NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES field events will begin on Saturday, May 31, at Queen’s College, Husbands, St. James, while the road races, involving running, cycling, walking, and skating, will take place on Sunday, June 1, on the Mighty Grynner Highway. Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track events at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.