By Neil Barry Jnr.
Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Sunday won the 2012 New Building Society limited overs, second division competition in a controversial finish to their game against arch rivals Demerara Cricket Club at Bourda.
DCC, replaying to GCC’s 207 all out in 39.1 overs, were 128-7 when the team walked off in protest at an umpiring decision.
The dramatic conclusion to the game undermined a sterling effort by the eventual victors, although the game may have been heading towards a close finish.
DCC players subsequently left the field in protest to the umpires decision to uphold a run out appeal by GCC against Dennis Squires.
In refusing to continue DCC forfeited the remainder game losing by a margin of 73 runs.
The conclusion also overshadowed an excellent game in the field for Dexter George and a fluent innings from Man-of-the-Match Elon Fernandes.
GCC, sent in by DCC, were indebted to Fernandes, 85, Almando Doman, 44, Winston Forrester, 26.
Fernandes made 85 with five fours before he was run out by a direct hit from George at point. George finished with 5 for 40.
DCC in reply lost wickets at regular intervals.
Kemol Savory missed a pull shot off Robin Bacchus and hit his wicket to be out for nought while Cohen Ismond, after pulling a delivery behind square for a boundary, top edged a pull for the wicket keeper Gavin Charles to take a simple catch off Samuel McKenzie for 18 with three fours. Jahron Byron was dropped by the wicketkeeper next over, and looked set to make GCC pay when he got going with a slash wide of third man for four followed by a stylish cover drive for another boundary.
He later survived a confident caught behind appeal, only to be out stumped next ball off Forrester for 17.
After a brief partnership, Devon Lord had Andrew Gibson well caught at slip and soon afterwards Jamal Hinckson was dismissed when the ball ricocheted off his boot to hit the wicket. He had made 24 with four fours.
DCC lost another wicket when Omesh Danram edged behind off Doman, with the score on 6 for 87.
However, Squires and Linden Lyght began the recovery but when the partnership was worth 41 runs, Squires played a ball towards Fernandes at point and set off for a single.
Fernandes sent the throw to the striker’s end and the bails were removed with both batsmen in mid pitch as they had not yet crossed when the stumps were broken.
Initially, Squires was given out but Lyght had already left the field and had reached the pavilion.
This resulted in a dispute which required the intervention of the match referee and stand by umpire.
When the decision was made to have Lyght return to the field, DCC left the field and the umpires duly awarded GCC victory by 74 runs with 75 balls remaining and Dexter George and Orlando Sturge still to bat. Speaking at the closing ceremony GCA President Roger Harper expressed shock at the events that transpired.
“It is not an example the GCA would like to encourage,” he said adding afterwards that “umpires officiate, (while) players play, so umpires must take control with greater authority and assurance.”
He closed by congratulating GCC for outstanding cricket throughout the tournament.
Bobby Majeed, who spoke on behalf of the sponsors, said that these tournaments provide excellent opportunity for latent talent to come to the fore and that once necessary application is put in, players can progress to win trophies for West Indies.
