Playing at the Albion Community Centre ground in the first semi-final, RHTWSB were held to 100-8 from their 20 overs with national opener Royston Crandon leading the way with 29 as Barnwell (2-14), Leroy Bristol (2-16) and Kevin George 2-22 did the damage with the ball.
Barnwell returned to hit 34 and along with national Under-19 opener Trevon Griffith’s 31, ensured DCC’s reply with 101-8 from 19.4 overs to book a place in the final where they will play the winner of the Lusignan/Central Essequibo matchup which is scheduled to take place on a date and venue to be announced.
RHTWSB who are the Berbice zone champions in the tournament were asked to take first strike by their Demerara zone runners-up opponents in sultry conditions and were led by Crandon who struck one four and a six over midwicket off DCC’s player/coach Gavin Nedd before he was run out by Barnwell.
Former national and West Indies Under-19 skipper Andre Percival (17), Renwick Batson (16) and the inform Delbert Hicks (15) offered support to Crandon against the Queenstown-based team, who also held the upper hand against them in the Malteenoes Sports Club Sixes tournament last year.
When DCC began their reply they lost national skipper Travis Dowlin who was bowled going for an expansive drive off the bowling of left arm spinner Ravi Narine.
But Barnwell took the fight to the Ancient County team by hitting Royston Crandon over extra cover and through mid off for successive boundaries, followed by two more through the covers off the bowling of Narine. Griffith was solid in support at the other end during his 30 runs second wicket partnership with Barnwell, being more content in picking up the singles in order to get the 22-year-old all rounder on strike.
But at 50-1, DCC suffered a mini batting collapse to slip to 81-6, losing Barnwell, skipper Derwin Christian, Denis Squires, Trevon Garraway and Kevin George in the process as national fast bowler Esaun Crandon who grabbed 3-11, fought valiantly to keep his team in the match.
Griffith who was appointed skipper of the Georgetown team which is at present contesting the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-association Under-19 tournament, was caught at cover with victory a mere two runs away in the final over, with three balls to spare.
But Cowen Ismond ensured Barnwell’s efforts did not go to waste by flicking the first delivery from Esaun Crandon for two, to give his team a well deserved victory.
Narine (1-15) and Royston Crandon (1-25) offered support to Esaun Crandon albeit in vain, as DCC maintained their supremacy over their opponents and sister club and they now await the winner of the second semi-final.
