CRICKET-SUPER50-LEAD Athanaze, Fletcher unable to prevent Harpy Eagles win (includes quotes).

PORT OF SPAIN -- Rising Test star Alick Athanaze stroked a scintillating half-century but it was not enough, as Guyana Harpy Eagles wore down Windward Islands Volcanoes to win their opening game of the Regional Super50 Cup by 10 runs here Tuesday.

With Volcanoes in pursuit of 230 for victory at the Brian Lara Stadium, the left-hander pummeled a swift 75 from 55 balls to put Volcanoes in command of the run chase at one stage at 109 for two in the 15th over.

However, Harpy Eagles' spinners dried up the runs in stingy spells as Volcanoes then lost four wickets for 35 runs, to collapse to 144 for six in the 28th over.

Captain Andre Fletcher undertook a desperate late effort with an unbeaten 52 from 86 balls but wickets tumbled around him, and Volcanoes were eventually dismissed for 219 off 46 overs.

Fast bowler Romario Shepherd snatched three for 35 while off-spinner Kevin Sinclair (2-42) and seamer Nial Smith (2-43) supported with two wickets apiece.

'It's plain to see [we lost it] in the batting. We let ourselves down,' Fletcher said afterwards.

'Being in a position of a hundred-plus for one and getting bowled out for 219 is unacceptable.'

Harpy Eagles had earlier rallied to 229 for nine from their 50 overs with Tevin Imlach and Sinclair both getting 41, and Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Gudakesh Motie both scoring 29.

Seamer Ryan John was the best bowler with four for 60, Volcanoes taking wickets at key stages to restrict Harpy Eagles.

'Definitely it's good to start with a win as a team and as a captain,' said captain Veerasammy Permaul.

'I think in the batting we didn't put up the kind of score that [represented] the calibre of batsmen that we've got but after half-time, we believed in ourselves that we could defend the 230.'

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