By Calvin Roberts
An impressive spell of medium-fast bowling from national all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, who took 5-12, enabled Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to inflict a thrashing on West Demerara’s New Line Cavaliers and claim the $50,000 first prize and a trophy in a specially-arranged Twenty20 cricket match at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground Friday night.
After DCC, who were asked to take first strike, were bowled out for 172 from 19.3 overs Barnwell returned to demolish a batting line up that looked at sea under the lights sending them packing for a paltry 57.
DCC, whose top-scorer was Jamal Hinckson with an accomplished 64, were off to a sound start with Barnwell who struck two fours and one six in making 18 and Leroy Primo whose 21 contained three fours, posting 31 runs for the first wicket inside four overs.
After Barnwell departed, Primo, in collaboration with Hinckson, who struck six sixes and four fours in his innings, saw their team to its eventual total.
Jermaine Horatio chipped in with a quick fire 15, decorated with three fours as Budhan Baksh with 3-28 and former Demerara under-19 fast bowler, Neil Thomas, 2-22, helped put the brakes on the Queenstown club’s scoring.
New Line Cavaliers in reply, were off to a slow start with Chabiraj Ramcharran (12) and Amir Azeez (22) posting 33 runs from seven overs.
The floodgates were opened after Ramcharran attempted to hit a short, flat delivery from leg spinner Kester Hardcourt (3-9) out of the ground and got a top edge back to the bowler.
From the relatively comfortable position of 33-1 after eight overs, Cavaliers were reduced to 40-7 in nine.
Barnwell engineered the collapse getting a double strike in his first over which included the vital wicket of hard-hitting Baksh, who was smartly stumped by wicket-keeper Darwin Christian without scoring.
Even though Dennis Squires conceded 11 runs from his only over which included 10 wides, he still managed to pick up a wicket and when national under-15 off spinner Teralph Scipio bowled the final batsman off his first delivery of the 12th over, it was all over for New Line Cavaliers.
At the presentation ceremony Barnwell received a trophy and $10,000 for being the man-of-the-match whilst New Line Cavaliers took home $20,000 and DCC $50,000 and a trophy.
Sponsor Salim Azeez said it was his intention to organize and sponsor matches of this nature providing there were opponents to play his team.
“We will be looking to play Twenty20 cricket every week once the weather permits and there are opponents available. I must say congratulations to DCC for winning this encounter and forewarn them that a rematch will be on the cards sooner than later.”
