Led by a man-of-the-match performance from national all rounder Christopher Barnwell, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) whipped Lusignan Cricket Club (LCC) by seven wickets at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCB) ground yesterday, to claim the coveted crown of national first division 20/20 champions.
Winning the toss and opting to take first strike in the (GCB)-organized Gafsons Group of Companies-sponsored national tournament, LCC were bowled out for a meagre 51 off the final delivery of their 20 overs, to which DCC replied with 57-3 from 10.3 overs.
Barnwell exploited the little moisture that was there in the wicket which was of uneven bounce at times, to claim 4-10 from three overs of medium pace, before he returned with the bat to top score with 20 decorated with one six and one four in his team’s response.
Barnwell started the slide which left the East Coast team precariously placed on 14-4 in the sixth over of their innings, when he had former national Under-19 opener Krishna Deosarran caught by wicketkeeper Denver Greaves without scoring. A double strike in his second over, including the dangerous Vishnu Ramjeet (06) – who had plundered the bowling of Central Essequibo in the semi finals – and Harrinarine Hira (00), followed by the wicket of Nirmaldeo Sarwan (00) virtually set up the match for DCC.
Ramjeet was beginning to look ominous, when he drove a full length delivery from Barnwell through extra cover for four, but was caught by Greaves, one of four dismissals for the former Demerara Under-19 skipper, in Barnwell’s next over, followed by Hira’s dismissal two balls later.
Sarwan must have considered himself unlucky when he drove aerially at a delivery pitched outside his off stump, only to see DCC’s skipper Derwin Christian, who was not performing duties behind the stumps, come up with a diving catch at point.
The spinners were introduced by Christian at the start of the eighth over and they did not let up on the pressure built up by Barnwell, with Leroy Bristol (2-5) and Kevin George (2-9) combining to grind LCC further into the ground in hazy conditions.
Navin Singh who top scored with 11, was the eighth wicket to fall at 33 in the 14th over and were it not for a 13-run tenth wicket partnership between Demerara Under-19 player Rajendra Nikbarran (5 not out) and last man Kumar Bishundyal (07), LCC who posted their 50th run at the start of the final over, never looked like getting there.
Dennis Squires (1-4) and former national off spinner Gavin Nedd who played as player/coach for DCC and took 1-12, offered support to Barnwell, Bristol and George.
When DCC began their reply in overcast conditions, they lost the wicket of national Under-19 opener Trevon Griffith who was caught off a leading edge by Nikbarran at backward square leg off the bowling of Hardeo Sattaur (1-12).
But Barnwell displayed a no-nonsense attitude when he struck former national Under-15 left arm spinner Emran Khan onto Regent Street for six and followed it by a cut through point, which was saved by Sarwan on the boundary, for three.
He also struck Nikbarran (1-10) through the mid off area for four, but in his attempt to hit the same bowler over long on, he was caught by Bishundyal at extra cover for a run-a-ball 20 at 27-2 in the sixth over.
Squires joined national captain Travis Dowlin who made a 21 ball 18 and together they took the score to 39 before the former was caught by wicketkeeper Hardeo Jailall off Ramjeet (1-13) 13 runs away from victory.
There were no more headaches for DCC, as Christian joined Dowlin and took his team home to victory, completing it with a six over wide long on off Ramjeet.
DCC received a trophy and $500,000 for their win, whilst LCC and Barnwell collected $250,000 and $25,000 and a trophy respectively.
