The Young Warriors proved their mettle last evening as they walked away with both the champions’ trophy and the man-of-the-match award. Led by Young Warrior’s captain Paul Wintz with a match winning 43 which include a solitary boundary and ably supported by Gajanand Singh with a 63 ball 50 studded with six fours took the match away from the previously unbeaten Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).
DCC took first strike and were in early trouble as they lost Trevon Griffith for duck but make shift opener Christopher Barnwell had other plans as he stoked four boundaries in a cultured 34. In between Barnwell lost Vishnu Arjune the younger brother of national opener Krishna Arjune for 10 before losing his cool to be third out for 54.
The DCC innings went into a slump as Derwin Christian 0, Michael Marques 5, Keon Hardcourt 3 saw them to 101-7. But an inspirational partnership between Dennis “bitters” Squires and Kevin George saw them to 162 before George was out for a well played 21. Squires though had other ideas as he remained unbeaten on 52 when his last partner Garvin Nedd was bowled with the total on 188 all out off 38 overs.
In the bowling department Balram Samaroo with 2-27 led the bowlers followed by Wintz 2-28, Muniram Shivdyal 2-27 being the pick.
When Young Warriors had their turn at the wicket the opening pair of Farouk Husain and Richard Ramdeen was back in the stands with 18 on the board as Trevon Garraway had Ramdeen caught by Marques for 02 and Husain out caught by Garraway off the bowling of George for 1.
Winifred Edwards joined the experienced Gajanand Singh and together they took the total to 128 before both departed thanks to a double break through by the combination of Barnwell and Squires. Squires showed his athleticism in the field holding on to two good catches. Gajanand went for 50 with 6 boundaries and Waheid Edwards for a sedated 22.
Seon Hetymier and captain Paul Wintz though had other ideas as they took the score to 146 before Hetymier was fifth out for 24 and Wintz followed shortly for 43 leaving Balram Samaroo and Rudolph Baker to make the required runs. Young Warriors won by four wickets with 2 overs to spare.
Wintz was adjudged man of the match for his 43 and 2-28 but many thought that Squires who scored 52 not out and took two wickets and two catches would have been considered for the award.
