A pugnacious innings from opener Andrew Lyght Jnr, followed by controlled bowling from off spinner Dennis Squires and national fast bowler Trevon Garraway, propelled national T20 champions Demerara Cricket Club to a seven-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago’s Merryboys in their opening match of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) T20 club championship Monday night.
Playing at the Guaracara Park, Merryboys won the toss and asked the Guyanese to take first strike on a good batting wicket and they duly compiled to rattle up 157-4 from their 20 overs, with Lyght leading the way with his 75 to which Merryboys were held to 150-7 from their 20 overs.
Lyght, who is the son of the late Andrew Lyght, a former Guyana and West Indies ‘B’ opener, posted his 50 from 35 deliveries hitting five fours and two sixes before he was stumped off the bowling of Ken Hazel for his eventual score made off 55 deliveries with six fours and two sixes.
He had earlier lost national all rounder Christopher Barnwell (02) who was caught at mid off by Mario Belcon off the bowling of Richard Kelly off the second ball of the innings, but was partnered by discarded West Indies limited-overs player Leon Johnson (37; 3×4) and they added 100 for the second wicket before Johnson was caught by Belcon at point off the bowling of his fellow Guyanese Royston Crandon in the 14th over.
Lyght was eventually dismissed in the 19th over, but a run-a-ball 22 which included one four and one six from discarded national wicketkeeper and DCC’s skipper Derwin Christian guided DCC to their eventual total of 157-4 from their 20 overs.
Kelly ended with 2-31 while Crandon (1-29) and Hazel (1-31) offered support with the ball for Merryboys who had earlier defeated Preysal by five runs in their opening match of the tournament last Saturday.But this time around, they found the spin-based attack of the Guyanese too hot to handle despite a belligerent 48 made from 23 balls with four fours and two sixes from Royston Crandon, whose elder brother Esaun offered support with a 14-ball 21 (1×4; 1×6) while Belcon made 20.
Merryboys originally ended on 44-7, but DCC who were led by controlled bowling from Garraway (2-17) and Squires (2-24) were given a six runs penalty for a slow over rate.
DCC will now engage another Trinidadian team in Preysal in their next encounter today from 15:30hrs and a win would ensure them a place in the quarterfinals where they would be facing Dominica on Friday.