Barnwell’s heroics hand Georgetown title

GCB/Jaguars Franchise 50 Overs League 2017-18…

By Clifton Ross

All-rounder Chris Barnwell followed up his semi-final hundred with a match-winning fifty which helped Georgetown sneak past Essequibo by 3 wickets by in the finals of the Jaguars 50 Overs League which ended on Wednesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The out-of-favor Guyana player who was adjudged Man-of-the-match, led the way with a solid knock of 69 from 68 balls with seven fours and a six, which along with Captain Leon Johnson’s 47 proved to be the mainstay for Georgetown who ended on 193-7 in 44 overs, in pursuit of 192.

Essequibo, who entered as favorites after they played sublimely following their 3-Day title win last year, were given some impetus by Guyana Jaguars all-rounder Keemo Paul who top-scored with 39 which was supported by Ricardo Peters’ 33 and Kemol Savory’s 32. However, their total of 192 all out in 38.3 overs was not enough to give the young side the double.
Franchise player and Jaguars 50 Overs selectee Ramaal Lewis starred with 3-34 bowling for his Georgetown franchise whose run chase began shakily.
Openers Robin Bacchus (12) and Andrew Lyght Jr (02) failed to get out the blocks and paid with their wickets falling victims to Paul and Ricardo Adams.
However, the senior pair of Johnson and Barnwell dug in after the openers were removed as the two sought to punish the Essequibo bowlers. Johnson was fluent with his stroke-play, finding the ropes four times and venturing over it once as he inched towards a fifty.
Spinner Akinie Adams however held his nerve as he managed to outfox the West Indies Test batsman who was comprehensively bowled just three shy of what would have been a deserving half-century.
Barnwell shrugged off the departure of his skipper and raised his fifty off 54 deliveries with a single which took his team within inches of victory. Fresh off a century which was enough to dethrone Lower Corenntyne in the semifinal on Tuesday, Barnwell then stepped on the gas and smoked a huge six which sailed

into the Green stands and followed up with a trifecta of fours in a short space of time.
The all-rounder got a bit overzealous and paid for it with his wicket after attempting to bludgeon Akinie Adams over the rope but fell short and was caught on the long-on boundary.
Following his departure, panic stepped in which saw a mini-collapse with the dismissals of Shemroy Barrington who was bowled for 22 by Paul, Lewis who was trapped lbw for 17 by Ricardo Adams and Dexter Solomon who departed for 4.
Despite the hiccups, the duo of Steven Sankar (07*) and Paul Wintz (01*) weathered the storm and saw the new champions in wild celebration much to the delight of the handful of die-hard spectators which included Norman the juice man.
Earlier, medium-pacer Paul Wintz (1-34) and Barnwell (2-32), provided some Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) magic for Georgetown as Essequibo openers Eaknaut Persaud was bowled by the all-rounder for duck while the dangerous Kevon Boodie succumbed to Wintz for 4.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Savory staged a brief fightback by smashing six fours in his 29-ball innings which consolidated after the loss of the openers, before Lewis disturbed his stumps.
Another Guyana Jags selectee to the 50 Overs team, Ricardo Adams (07), failed to celebrate his selection with some runs as he witnessed his timber being disturbed by a rampaging Barnwell who seemed to be a man on a mission.
Essequibo were then given a glimmer when top-scorers Paul and Peters joined forces to ward off the Georgetown bowling. Paul was aggressive during his stay at the crease, especially off the bowling of Barnwell, carving four fours and two maximums which prompted Johnson to remove the all-rounder from the attack. Peters was a bit more discreet with his approach, just managing three fours in his knock.
Before the duo could significantly hurt the Georgetown side, Lewis pulled things back with the dismissal of Paul while Johnson accounted for Peters’ departure. Lewis then grabbed his third wicket when he trapped Mark Williams LBW for 12.
While some team work from Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) teammates; spinners Devon Lord (2-25) and Johnson (2-24) mopped up the Essequibo tail, leaving Akinie Adams stranded on 9.
At the post match ceremony, Barnwell copped the award for Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his 244 runs and six wickets he recorded in the competition as well as the MVP award for his contribution in the final.