Raymond Perez, Raymond Perez!! The cheers rang out as the young batsman played a blinder of an innings to explicitly book unbeaten defending champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association/ Carib Beer T20 competition.
Chasing 161 for victory, Perez, a stylish opening batsman by nature, batted in the middle and smashed four fours and four sixes as he rocketed to an unbeaten 58 in the nerve-wrecking four wicket victory over the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) on Friday at DCC.
With 39 needed of the final two overs, the right-handed batsman unleashed a savage attack on West Indies U-19 player, Bhaskar Yadram, who went for 51 in his four overs. In his final over which virtually determined the game, the national player leaked 32 runs which swung the game around full circle.
The 19th over went; 4, 6, 6, 4 0, 6 that brought the sizable crowd to its feet with Perez’s his delightful straight hits down the ground. Yadram was seen leaving the field in tears.
Kemol Savory (12*) then swatted two sixes, sealing the important win with three balls remaining.
The Perez show became necessary after DCC got off to the worse possible start as Brian Sattaur was run-out in the first over without facing a ball.
The shocking start for the formidable home side continued as Kevon Boodie (14), Tevin Imlach (08) and captain Christopher Barnwell (15) were back in the hut with just score 54 for 4 after 10 overs.
Barnwell looked to be his ominous mood when he executed a masterful checked-drive unto New Garden street off the bowling of Troy Gonsalves (2-28). However, he played down the wrong line to off-spinner Richie Looknauth (1-18) and was bowled.
Former National Youth players Sherfene Rutherford (38) (1×4; 3x6s) and Perez together who then soaked in the pressure with smart batting, clipping singles and dispatching any lose ball over the ropes.
The duo added 66 for the fifth wicket and brought the home side back into the match. Rutherford fell to good running catch by Yadram off the bowling of Tagenarine Chanderpaul (2-22). Keemo Paul (11) looked to be in good touch but hoisted one down long-on for a simple catch.
Earlier ECC, were asked to take first strike and got off to a flyer with Chanderpaul cashing in on an inconsistent opening spell by seamer Paul Wintz whose first three deliveries went no-ball, wide and six, leaking 14 runs in the first over.
Wintz switched ends and still faced the long end of Chanderpaul’s bat, with the left hander, smashing him over deep mid-wicket for six after which Rajendra Chandrika hit an oozing straight drive for six.
Barnwell (2-11) introduced himself into the attack and got Chanderpaul out leg before for 19 (2x6s) with the score on 45 in the fifth over.
Next over left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (1-40) trapped Yadram without scoring to leave the Camp Road unit 56 for 2 at the end of the power play overs.
Wickets began to tumble and Barnwell was the architect with his nibbling medium pace getting Chandrika to follow a wide delivery, edging behind to keeper Kemol Savory for 23 (3x4s; 1×6).
With DCC lacking a sixth bowling option, Barnwell called on part-timers to fill the void and Everest took to the attack. Troy Gonsalves who top-scored with an even 50 (3x4s; 5x6s) and Chandrapaul Hemraj took the score from 69 for 3 after ten overs to 134 after the 14th with some aggressive batting.
When the fifth wicket of Hemraj fell for 28 (1×4; 3x6s) at 152, ECC had lacked the urgency as Steven Sankar (3-27) who leaked 19 in first over took a hat-trick.
Kamesh Yadram (20) (3x4s) added the other substantial score as they finished on 160 for eight.
DCC will await the winner of Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Police today at GCC to know who they face in the final.
Today’s match is expected to commence at 13:00h.
