In commemoration of International Day of Sport for development and peace local sports organization, The Xercise, hosted a day of activities on Thursday in Georgetown. However, none was more exciting than a T20 match including some of the country’s top players at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.
The match was filled with excitement up to the final over where The Xercise XI required 19 runs against Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) with their skipper, West Indies batsman Leon Johnson and Renaldo Ali Mohamed at the crease. That over was bowled by West Indies T20 player Christopher Barnwell, who was greeted savagely by his counterpart, Johnson.
Members of The Xercise with sport personnel after the gripping celebratory match at DCC. Founder of The Xercise, Royston Alkins is at extreme right
The first ball was driven back past him for four, the next was helped past the short fine leg fielder for four, followed by a thunderous hit over long on and out of the ground for six, before Johnson was bowled off the fourth delivery.
With five to get from two deliveries, Joshua Wade hammered his first delivery over the straight boundary for six to seal the deal. It meant that The Xercise successfully reached 173-4 in 19.5 overs in reply to 171-7 made by DCC.
In a very mature and entertaining knock, Johnson top scored with 85 inclusive of five sixes and seven fours while Raymond Perez played well for 43. The pair added 101 for the second wicket, taking the score from 9-1 to 110-2.
Off spinner Cohen Ismond got the initial breakthrough in his first over when he bowled Sachin Singh for two. Leg spinner Steven Sankar bowled Perez while Barnwell claimed the other two wickets for DCC.
Earlier, DCC won the task and opted to bat. They lost the early wicket of Brian Sattaur for 8, caught off the bowling of Bernard Bailey. Kevon Bookie was next out for a cameo of 25 which included three fours and two sixes, followed by West Indies U-19 star Tevin Imlach for 12.
Kemo Paul 39 and Christopher Barnwell 65 then set the tone with a formidable partnership that propelled DCC to 171-7 from their allotment of 20overs.
Bailey and Torrington captured two wickets apiece while Anthony Adams and Ali Mohammed bagged a scalp each.
At the post match presentation several sport personnel were honoured for their contribution to the various sports, including Hilbert Foster, Lavern Fraser, Gordon Bratwaite, Faizul Khan, Paula Sampson and Stanley Ming were the individuals, who were rewarded.
