Shemroy Barrington struck his second successive hundred and, coupled with a blistering innings from national all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, steered the Rohan Kanhai Strikers to first innings points over the Lance Gibbs Tigers in their final round game of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President’s Cup competition at Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground yesterday.
Replying to the Tigers’ first innings score of 242 of which national opening batsman Krishna Arjune made 130, the Strikers ended the second day comfortably placed on 322-9, with Barrington unbeaten on 136.
Following a 31-run opening partnership between Rajendra Chandrika (11) and Ryan Ramdass (19) who were both lbw to Trevon Garraway (3-50) and Paul Wintz (1-32) respectively, Strikers slipped to 40-3, losing the wicket of stand-in skipper Assad Fudadin who was caught by wicketkeeper Delroy Jacobs without scoring.
Barrington, who opened his account by hitting Wintz through midwicket for four, and Krishna Deosarran added 41 runs for the fourth wicket before the Garraway/Jacobs combination accounted for Deosarran.
Rain interrupted play for 28 minutes, but afterwards Barrington and Barnwell set about repairing the damage done by Garraway who was extracting lots of pace from a fast DCC wicket in slightly overcast conditions.
They added 03 from 27.2 overs going to lunch on 86-4 from 23 overs, with Barnwell on four and Barrington 23.
After lunch, Barnwell warmed up for today’s Neal and Massy final against Young Warriors with some audacious shots of the Tigers bowling.
Barnwell raced past Barrington who was playing the supportive role to his partner’s explosive batting, with boundaries off left arm spinner Sauid Drepaul, posting his 50 from 42 balls and 47 minutes batting with 10 fours.
Barrington also struck Fraser over midwicket for six and duly got to his 50 shortly after, taking 94 balls and 152 minutes of batting, counting three fours and one six in getting there.
Barnwell was then bowled by Narsingh Deonarine.
He faced 61 balls and struck 13 fours whilst batting for 80 minutes for his 71, and, following his demise, Strikers lost Devon Clements (06), but went to tea at 238-6 with Barrington on 83 and national wicketkeeper/batsman Darwin Christian 17, needing five more runs for first innings points.
They lost Christian who was lbw to Deonarine off the first ball after tea and Ryan Hercules (03) after they had achieved first innings points and a lead of three runs.
Barrington soldiered on at the other end and duly got to his 100, his second in the competition in one over from Garraway, when he flicked the national fast bowler to fine leg, followed by an audacious straight drive back past him for boundaries which took him to 99.
Even though he displayed signs of nervousness approaching tea, the nervousness was replaced by joy, when he turned his 165th delivery from Garraway to a vacant midwicket and set off for the single that raised his 100.
He struck 11 fours and one six whilst batting for 274 minutes in reaching his century, inking his name in the minds of the selectors, who will be selecting the team to represent Guyana in the 2008/2009 Regional Carib Beer cricket series.
Bishoo proved he is no rabbit with the bat, when he too executed an excellent cover drive off Garraway before he was bowled by Gajanand Singh for 17 after adding 50 for the ninth wicket with Barrington.
At the close of play, Barrington who also hit Orin Forde over wide long on for his second six, had counted 18 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 136 and along with Brendon Bess who is unbeaten on four, added a valuable 27 runs for the 10th wicket so far.
Deonarine (3-47) and Garraway (3-50) were the pick of the bowlers for the Lance Gibbs Tigers, who like their opponents Rohan Kanhai Strikers, need to pull off an outright victory if they are to deny the Clive Lloyd Supercats from carting off the $200,000 first prize in the competition.
Today is the final day.
