Off-spinner Yatesh Dhanpaul’s five-wicket haul steered the Chris Barnwell led XI to a 128-run thumping of Leon Johnson’s XI in the first of two Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) 50-overs-a-side trial match played yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Dhanpaul was miserly and deadly during his spell, snaring 5-13 while opener Robin Bacchus, fresh from the
Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) bowled with aggression, picking up 3-14. Atonell Atwell grabbed 2-14 as Barnwell’s XI routed their opponent’s for a meagre 83 all out in 22.3 overs with Kamesh Yadram (21) and Daniel Seegobin (17) the only batsmen to offer resistance.
Batting first, Barnwell’s XI scored 211 for 6 in 36.4 overs compliments of Chandarpaul Hemraj’s classy 55 which was supplemented by a brisk 40 from Shemroy Barrington. Seamer Paul Wintz showed his class with the leather, snaring an impressive 4 for 38 while leg-spinner Raj Nanan picked up 2-31 and pacer Seon Daniels 2-32 for Johnson’s XI.
During the chase, the pugnacious Andrew Lyght Jr was removed for five off the bowling of Bacchus, leaving Rajendra Chandrika (13) and Chris Pattadin (6) tasked with taking their team home safely.
However, Bacchus and Knights had other plans when they soon removed Pattadin and Vishaul Singh (1) leaving the Johnson XI reeling at 21-3.
Things got worse when Chandrika drove a fullish delivery straight back into the hands of Bacchus who picked up his third wicket. The brief middle passage saw the team’s 50 being raised after some fight from Yadram and Seegobin who looked positive in their partnership before Yadram was caught by Hemraj at long-off off Dhanpaul’s bowling.
Seegobin then succumbed to another good off-spin delivery from Dhanpaul who he edged straight into the gloves of wicket-keeper Barrington, while the skipper was caught for one in the deep by Bacchus compliments of another good piece of bowling from Dhanpaul.
The wizardry continued when all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford (3) was caught by Atwell while Joseph Perry (7) and Nanan (0) were removed leaving Zaheer Mohamed stranded yet to come off the mark.
Earlier, the Amazon Warriors pair of Trevon Griffith (12) and Bacchus (26) looked dangerous with Bacchus looking the more ominous.
However, after the openers were removed, Barrington and Chanderpaul steadied the middle order with their aggression and patience.
After a good passage of play the left-arm Nanan struck a double blow when he had both players trapped LBW. A resurgence from Jeetendra Sukdeo who chipped in with 26 and Barnwell’s cameo which featured two sixes and a four set up a decent total as the remainder of the batting line succumbed to effective bowling.
The second match continues today at 9:30hrs.
