Trevon Griffith with an even unbeaten century led Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to an exciting 34-run win over rivals Transport Sports Club (TSC) in the final of the Beharry second-division limited overs competition played Sunday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.
Watched by a small but vocal crowd DCC batted first and were dismissed for 181 in 38.2 overs with Griffith’s scintillating 100 coming off 95 balls.
The national under -19 player, who was given a life on 24, made the fielding side pay dearly for the miss as he stroked eight fours and two sixes in scoring more than half of his team’s total.
Only Gladwin Brandis, who scored 20 in a fourth-wicket partnership of 36 with Griffith, got any substantial score.
Griffith, who returned with the ball to take 2-22, was rewarded with the $10,000 man of the match award and also a hamper from the sponsors.
Earlier DCC team were quickly on the back foot with Lawrence Smith out for a duck while Alfred Mentore departed with the score on 21-2.
When Leroy Primo was run out DCC were in a spot of bother on 25-3 but Brandis and Griffith stabilized the innings somewhat and when Brandis departed Jermaine Horatio contributed 14.
Griffith was left high and dry on his unbeaten 100.
Travis Blyden and skipper Steve Massiah were the chief destroyers with three wickets apiece.
TSC, in reply, failed to maintain a viable run rate as wickets fell at regular intervals despite Blyden’s top score of 45 made with the aid of four boundaries.
It boiled down to the TSC team needing to get thirty odd runs in the final over a virtually impossible task.
TSC were in immediate trouble when they batted as Chandra Persaud was out for a duck with the score on one while Mark Nicholson (5) and Kevin Alphonso (21-0 found the bowling of veteran Andre Legal (2-21) too hot to handle and slipped to 31-3.
Haresh Persaud and Blyden repaired the damage with the best partnership of the match, 52, but with the score on 83 Persaud lost his nerve and was forced to retire hurt hurting all chances TSC had of pulling off a memorable win.
Although Blyden was now middling the ball, TSC continued to lose wickets.
Terrence Poole was out for two with the score 109-6 and the TSC team eventually folded for 147.
Dennis Squires took 3-26, Legal 2-21 and Brandis 2-22.
DCC walked away with the Beharry Trophy and $75,000 first prize while TSC received $50,000.
In the presentation ceremony president of the Guyana Cricket Association (GCA) Bishwa Panday said he was happy at the way the competition was run off.
Panday was loud in praise for the champions, Beharry’s chairman and Anthony Xavier for their sterling contributions to cricket.
In other presentations Ace Warriors pair of Rawle Enmore (best batsman) and spinner Afzal Gafoor (best bowler) walked away with trophies and hampers for their efforts while MSC’s Sarfraz Esau won the best wicket-keeper award.
