Motie stars in West Berbice’s thrilling win over Georgetown
– Adams bags amazing 8-for
Story and Photos by Brandon Corlette
With one ball to spare, West Berbice continued their supreme tournament with a one-wicket win against a jaded Georgetown in the sixth round of the SBF Petroleum Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) Franchise League in a match played at Everest Cricket Club on Tuesday.
Gudakesh Motie bowls during his five-wicket haul
Motie grabs 5-29, Barnwell strokes 64
After slight morning showers, Georgetown won the toss and took first strike at 11:00h in cool conditions in the match reduced to 46 overs. Left-arm spinner and eventual Player of the Match, Gudakesh Motie, opening the bowling, removed Joshua Persaud for a duck with the third ball of the day.
Georgetown then lost Winston Forrester for nine as Motie continued his brilliance, before he removed Leon Johnson for a duck trapped in front.
The city side was reduced to 22-3, but a 43-run partnership between Raymond Perez and Christopher Barnwell took the score to 65-4. Perez, after looking fluent for his 32, hit one down long-off’s throat off young Nigel Deodat. Barnwell, who played with maturity throughout his innings, lost Ovid Richardson for three, but teenager Jerimiah Scott played a promising innings.
Christopher Barnwell on the charge during his 64
He added 35 runs with Barnwell, but he played an ugly swipe across the line and found the fielder after scoring 21 runs, which were decorated with two fours and one six. At 112-6, the city side slipped into deeper trouble when Adrian Hinds (01) and Steven Sankar (00) found a way to get out as Motie completed his five-wicket spell, which included great variation and accuracy. At 129-8, Barnwell reached a well-composed half-century with a mighty six down the ground that went outside Everest, off the bowling of Andrew Dutchin.
In his stylish fifty that was accomplished in 81 balls were the signs of a solid middle-order batsman. His innings ended when Kevin Sinclair trapped him in front with the score on 139-9. Barnwell, who was left amazed at the umpire’s decision, had an innings of 64 from 104 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes. Qumar Torrington and Ashmead Nedd then took the score to 158 as Deodat and Sinclair had 2-12 and 2-40 respectively in nine overs, in addition to Motie’s 5-29 in 10 overs.
In reply, West Berbice openers began with a bang, Sinclair continued his battle with Barnwell, smashing him for a boundary the very first ball. Sinclair and Leon Andrews added 43 runs together inside eight overs, but Andrews then tried one shot too many. He was dismissed for 19 by part-time offie Forrester.
Kevin Sinclair top-scored with 43 for West Berbice
Sinclair shines, Sankar takes 5
West Berbice skipper and West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer trotted in at number three. In his attempt to bat long, he was dismissed for 18 when Forrester trapped him in front. Hetmyer stroked two beautiful fours, but his innings was drama-filled. He was dropped off the very first ball by wicket-keeper Persaud and the Georgetown players were left in disbelief when the umpire stood against a caught-behind decision off Torrington.
In all that, Sinclair remained hungry for runs, holding the innings together with a solid 43. His innings ended when he hit a ranked long-hop to mid-wicket off the leggie, Sankar. The right-handed Sinclair hit three fours and one stunning six off Barnwell.
Leg-spinner Sankar took advantage of the fragile lower-middle order with 5-17 in nine allotted overs as West Berbice lost six wickets for 36 runs. It was Steffon Adams and Keon Joseph, who took the team across the line after Seon Glasgow’s 17. It was Barnwell, who had a decent day, ensuring West Berbice worked hard for the runs in the final over in which he dismissed Seon Glasgow.
Steven Sankar took five wickets for Georgetown
Ricardo Adams takes 8, Essequibo back to winning ways
Led by Kemol Savory’s 84 and Ricardo Adams’ all-round brilliance, Essequibo stormed past East Bank by 224 runs at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. With Keemo Paul returning to the Essequibo team, they posted 283-6 in 50 overs, with Savory scoring 84, Kevon Boodie scoring 65, Quintin Sampson scoring 56 and Ricardo Adams stroking 42.
In reply, East Coast were blown away for 59 in 18.2 overs of the Adams show. Adams ended with 8-36 in 9.2 overs while Anthony had 2-18 in eight overs, as Keemo Paul’s service with the ball was not required. The final round of the league will conclude on Thursday.
