LA Open T20: Marshall, Barnwell quick-fire innings lead Cavaliers to comprehensive win
…as Nedd, Lewis chip in
The action commenced in the LA Open T20 tournament as the Somerset Cavaliers, which comprise a plethora of Guyanese players and is captained by Chandrapaul Hemraj, stormed to a convincing win over the Punjab Blue. The Cavaliers were able to win by 138 runs thanks to the efforts of Xavier Marshall, Christopher Barnwell, Kennar Lewis, and Ashmead Nedd.
Ashmead Nedd bagged 2-20
Opting to bat first, the Cavaliers line-up was not one to be messed with as they are, by far, one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Lewis and Hemraj opened the batting, but, in a matter of minutes, Hemraj was back in the pavilion as he was outfoxed. This brought Marshall to the crease and from there on, an all-out assault took place. Marshall and Lewis creamed the Punjab bowlers, as they put together a 95-run partnership that frustrated their opponents.
Christopher Barnwell was on fire as he blasted 66 off 32
After Lewis departed for 69 off 32 balls, Chadwick Walton came to play, but only scored 15. Marshall was his usual free-spirited self as he continued to pick the gaps with ease, but what mattered the most was a quickfire Christopher Barnwell innings. He supported Marshall to the very end, smacking bowlers to every part of the ground and making them pay. Barnwell blasted 66 off 32, which included six boundaries and four maximums. Together with Marshall (92 off 45), he carried the Cavaliers to 251-5 in their allotted 20 overs. All the Punjab bowlers carried an economy rate of over 10.
Xavier Marshall blasted an unbeaten 92
The Punjab side now needed 252 for victory off 120 deliveries, a task that seemed impossible for them. In the end, they could only score 113 all out in their allotted 20 overs. The bowlers in particular were brilliant as they did not allow any slip-ups and forced the batsmen to go for the shots. That pressure resulted in easy wickets and a comfortable win for the Cavaliers. Bowling for the Cavaliers were Rusty Theron (2-19); Nikhil Dutta (3-22) and Ashmead Nedd (2-20).
