Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) yesterday defeated Young Warriors Cricket Club of Berbice by 21 runs to win the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) `Sixes’ cricket competition at the MSC ground yesterday.
It was a bitter defeat for the Berbice side as Dennis `Bitter Man’ Squires turned in a Man-of-the-match performance hitting 11 not out as DCC rattled up 49-4 from their allotted five overs and then bagging two wickets for 15 runs as Young Warriors were dismissed for 28.
DCC’s final total could have been better, taking into consideration the fact that openers Jamal Hinckson and Chris Barnwell, posted 31 in only 2.4 overs.
Barnwell was severe on the Young Warriors’ bowlers, especially former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Richard Ramdeen whom he struck over wide mid wicket for six and followed up by hitting the next two deliveries pugnaciously through extra cover and square cover for fours. He eventually fell for 15 with the score reading 35-2 in the third over of the innings.
Hinckson, who struck Munilall Shivdyal over extra cover, had earlier departed for 15 as DCC ended on 49-4.
Guest player for Young Warriors, Bermine’s Maxie De Jonge, was the pick of the bowlers with 2-4 whilst Paul Wintz, and former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Gajanand Singh each took a wicket.
Young Warriors in reply found the going tough against the spin of Squires and national wicket keeper/batsman Derwin Christian who bowled a tight line of medium pace.
Christian struck the most telling blow of the final when he bowled Singh with a first ball yorker to spark off celebrations on and off the field as Young Warriors were suddenly 5-2 in the second over.
They never recovered as aided by brilliant fielding by Barnwell, who took two splendid catches, DCC were able to win the inaugural competition.
Barnwell, who took the final catch that dismissed Wintz to seal victory, sprinted from deep mid wicket to a wide mid wicket position to pouch what was a difficult running catch.
Ishwar Singh with 10 was the top scorer for Young Warriors, who had defeated tournament host MSC in the first semi-final.
MSC batted first and made 65-3 off their five overs with Shemroy Barrington continuing his fine form with the bat this season scoring an unbeaten 40.
But Singh returned to show that the total was inadequate as he made an unbeaten 45 to pilot his team to victory.
In the DCC/RHTWSB semi-final, the latter team was bowled out for a meagre 28 after losing a wicket to the first delivery of the match that of the in-form Royston Crandon who was bowled playing across the line.
They shakily reached 28 with Renwick Batson, seven, being the principal scorer.
The victorious Queenstown side then knocked off the runs reaching 30 without loss with their openers Hinckson and Barnwell 18 and 10 respectively.
In earlier results, Young Warriors defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC) by 47 runs; MSC defeated Police Sports Club (PSC) by 10 wickets; DCC overcame Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) by four wickets and RHTWSB brushed aside GNIC by 40 runs.
Barrington, for his superlative innings during the course of the tournament was the recipient of a special prize courtesy of Louis Lowe of Demerara Power Company Limited, whose daughter made the presentation on his behalf whilst Singh (Best Batsman), Squires (Man-of-the-Match) and Wintz (Best Bowler) all received trophies and cash prizes for their individual performances throughout the competition.
Teams comprised six players five of whom were required to bowl one over. Only the wicket-keeper was not allowed to bowl.
