Give half centuries recorded in a batsmen friendly start to Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Carib Beer T20 tournament as a total of 1190 runs were scored in four exciting matches in the City.
Christopher Barnwell heave one during his top score of 60 for club team DCC
Christopher Barnwell, Surujnarine Kandasammy, Ryan Shun, Ovid Richardson and Kelvin Leitch are the batsmen that scored fifties to set their 2017 campaign off to a good start.
At Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground, the host MSC defeated Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) by 31 runs. Hosts Police Sports Club edged Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) by six runs. Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) hammered University of Guyana (UG) by a mammoth margin of 142 runs and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) won by seven wickets against visitors Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
A poor batting and fielding display by GYO helped MSC to a comfortable victory. The visitors floored five catches as MSC registered 155-4 in 20 overs. Kandasammy top scored with 50 from 34 balls and received valuable support from skipper Steven Jacobs 41 and Stephan Browne 33 while Kellon Carmichael scored 13.
Kandasammy and Browne added 75 for the first wicket before the former was dismissed making way for Jacobs, who up the tempo immediately after entering the crease to help MSC score more than 80 runs in their last 10 overs.
Darshan Persaud and Prakash Chowtie collected two wickets each for GYO, who finished on 124-9 in 20 overs in their reply.
Chris Deonarine 18 and John Champagne 12 got things started with a 24 run opening stand but the visitors lost nine wickets for 42 runs subsequently. At 66-9 GYO were steering at a heavy defeat but the last pair of Kishan Singh 26 and Irfaan Alli 33 added 58 runs in an unbroken partnership in just 7.4 overs, hitting seven sixes between them.
Jacobs dominated with ball as he grabbed 2-28 from his quota of four overs while Carmichael, Brown and Edward Burnette captured a scalp each.
At DCC, Barbados Tridents new addition Barnwell blasted 60 to inspired DCC to 255-6 in 20 overs against UG. Sherfane Rutherford 48, Brian Sattaur 40, Kemol Savoury 37 and Paul Wintz 30 all played significant parts in DCC’s total. Linden Austin 2-36 and pacer Ray Newton 2-57 led the bowling for the students.
It was always going to be an uphill task for the minnows and by the time their overs expired they were at 113-9. Darnell Douglas scored 31 and Royston Alkins 10 was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Cohen Ismond spearheaded DCC’s bowling with figures of 4-25 while Steven Sankar and Trevon Garraway supported with two wickets each.
In a low scoring match GCC got past GDF with one over to score at Bourda. GDF made 93 all out in 19.4 overs, with Leon Andrews making 22. Robin Bacchus 3-23 and Anthony Adams 2-9 spearheaded the hosts’ bowling.
GCC successfully reached their target of 94-3 in 19 overs as Martin Pestano-Belle scored 31 and Renaldo Ali Mohamed 25 not out ensured they got there.
In the closest match of the day, Police prevailed over GNIC although the latter benefitted from eight penalty runs before the start of the last over because of time wasting and were left with eight to get from the ultimate over.
However, they only managed two runs. Ryan Shun 80 and Ovid Richardson 50 scored fifties as GNIC made 175-6 in the chase. Raun Johnson 3-15 from four overs and Jason Heyliger 3-9 from two overs were the best bowlers for the lawmen.
Kelvin Leitch bowled four overs for 24 runs to complete a quality all-round performance after he hit 68 in Police total of 181-6 from 20 overs. Mark Rhobe 39 and Sherwin McPherson 20 contributed with the bat for Police.
Jermine Grovesnor and Ryan Shun snared two wickets apiece for GNIC.
If the competition continues in this fashion it means an average 149 runs would be scored per innings which would make it a very competitive one.
Action in the competition continues today with four matches. Banwarie and Isaacs will be officiating as DCC hosts GNIC while over at PSC, the lawmen will face a challenge from TSC with Persaud and Feassal in the middle.
Everest will entertain GYO with Mario Nicholls and Andre Hurry doing on-field duties and over at, MSC, the home team will encounter GCC under the duties of Ashook Bridgekumar and Yisrael. (Delvon Mc Ewan)
