National all-rounder Christopher Barnwell produced a sterling performance worthy of his MVP adjudication as the Demerara Cricket Club XI managed to script a narrow two-run win against Young Warriors in Saturday evening’s T20 affair.
In a match organized by the gentlemen of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) who continue to bridge the gap between softball and hardball cricket in Guyana, fans were treated to 40 overs of pure excitement by some of Guyana’s finest cricketers.
Batting first, the Queenstown side racked up an enormous 199 for 4 after opener Trevon Griffith slammed five sixes and six fours in his brisk 60.
Barnwell, who was destructive in both departments, first smashed three fours and six huge sixes in his top score of 64 before returning with the ball to rip through the Young Warriors top order as he ended with 3-3.
His was the stabdout performance of the evening despite a few relatively good performances from the other players.
Young Warriors in reply came exceptionally close to conquering the target. They will likely consider themselves lucky to get that close and would be indebted to a middle-order blitz from Kevin Ramdeen who struck the DCC XI bowlers for three fours and six thumping sixes. He ended on 61 not out, taking his team to 198 for 4 in 20 overs.
National Under-15 skipper Ashmead Nedd was his usually classy self, bagging 2-25 from his four overs duly supporting his skipper Barnwell.
The DCC innings began with typical flair and entertainment from Griffith and his pugnacious opening partner, former U19 skipper Brian Sattaur (24). The pair added 80 for the first wicket before former West Indies Under 19 batsman Gajanand Singh had the latter trapped lbw.
Barnwell then joined his fellow national teammate at the crease and the two took the game away from the Berbicians as they utilized the left-hand/right-hand combination to throw off the bowlers.
After both batsmen reached their milestones in very aggressive manner, the Berbicians fought back led by a very expensive spell of bowling from Suresh Dhanai.
Though he went for 52 runs from his four overs he captured the prized wicket of Barnwell who was caught and Kevon Boodie who was bowled for 15.
When Griffith was stumped before off Ramdeen’s spin, Young National all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford was left unbeaten on 18 after providing a brief flurry which contained a couple sixes and a four, along with fellow youth player Keemo Paul who was yet to get off the mark.
When Young Warriors batted, Barnwell removed his opposite number in West Indies U19 opener Shimron Hetmyer for 24 but not before the left-hander smoked two sixes and three fours.
Barnwell then accounted for the wickets of Maxie DeJonge (15) and the returning Singh (07) who seems to be making a comeback onto the scene, using his variations and length have all three batsmen caught.
Ishwar Singh (29) and Ramdeen did an excellent repair job for the Warriors from Cumberland as they piled on enough runs to create a panic attack from the DCC XI.
Singh was classy during his approach, compiling three fours and a six while Ramdeen went for the gut with his display of power-hitting. After 10 overs the Warriors were playing in cruise mode with the score 80 for 3, going at roughly 12 an over.
When Singh departed compliments of Nedd, Former U19 National Seon Hetmyer (17), older brother of Shimron was also removed by the Young spinners. Ramdeen continued his assault and reached his fifty as he and new man Kassim Khan took the team close to victory.
With 24 needed from the last six balls, the skipper entrusted himself to bowl to the in-form Ramdeen and narrowly pulled it off, even managing to have Ramdeen’s partner Khan run out as they completed a narrow yet nevertheless important win over the Young talented Warriors of Berbice.
