National cricketer Christopher Barnwell and off–spinner Cohen Ismond led the Demerara Cricket Club to an emphatic 142-run victory over the University of Guyana, yesterday as the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) first division T20 competition got underway.
DCC won the toss and opted to bat first on a placid wicket and lush looking outfield and made 255 for 4 from their allotted 20 overs.
Openers Brian Sattaur and West Indies Under 19 player Tevin Imlach gave their side an ideal start by posting 44 runs for the first wicket before Imlach was dismissed by off-spinner Linden Austin for 15, an innings which included two boundaries. Number three batsman Kevon Boodie was caught at long off going for a big hit and failed to trouble the scorers to give Austin his second wicket.
Barnwell featured in two fruitful partnerships of 40 with Sattaur and 44 with Sherfane Rutherford from 23 balls before both batsmen fell in identical fashion caught at long on off the bowling of pacer Ray Newton.
Their dismissals, though, did not stop Kemol Savory who made 37 not out and Paul Wintz 30 not out from finishing the innings on a positive note. Wintz, in particular, was savage on medium pacer Michael Shalim in the final over by smashing him back over his head for three consecutive sixes.
Savory too joined in the fun by helping to take 25 runs off the final over. Wintz innings included three sixes and two four while Savory’s had the same amount of sixes and fours. Linden Austin 2 for 36 and Ray Newton 2 for 56 were the main wicket takers for the students, who, in reply, were staring down the barrel from the get go after they lost both openers with the score on four. The innings never really got going and ended on 113 for 9 from their allotted 20 overs. Only Darnell Douglas who made an aggressive 31 in an innings which included six fours and Keron Sewnarine who made 29 not out after hitting two sixes and a four, showed any resistance.
Off-spinner Ismond 3 for 24 from 4 overs, Trevon Garraway 2 for 26 and Steven Sancar 2 for 23 were the chief destroyers for DCC.
Meanwhile, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Police and Malteenoes also recorded victories in the first round of the competition. Over at Bourda, GCC secured a seven-wicket win over the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to start their campaign off on a winning start. GDF batted first and were bundled out for 93 in 19.4 overs with Leon Andrews top scoring with 30 while Jeremiah Harris and Dexter Solomon chipped in with 13 and 12 runs respectively. Robin Bacchus who claimed 3-23 and Anthony Adams 2-9 were the main wicket takers for the Bourda men who reached 93 for 3 in 19 overs courtesy of Pestano Belle (30) and Ronaldo Ali Mohamed who was unbeaten on 25 at the end. Damieon Waldron took 2-15 in a losing cause for the GDF.
Malteenoes SC got the better of Gandhi Youth Organisation by 31 runs at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground, Thomas Lands. Malteenoes were led by a fine all-round performance from national player, Steven Jacobs who made 41 as Malteenoes, batting first made 155-4 from their 20 overs with opener Kandasammy Surujnarine stroking 50.
Darshan Persaud and Prakash Chowtie took two wickets each bowling for GYO, who, however only managed to score 124-9 in response. Irfaan Alli top scored with 33 while receiving support from Keshan Singh who made 26. Jacobs returned with the ball to take 2-28 for the home side.
Police got the better of GNIC SC over at Eve Leary. Police batted first and made 181-6 from their 20 overs. Kelvin Leitch top scored with 68 not out from 36 balls, an innings which included five sixes and three fours. He got support from Mark Robhe who made 39 and Sherwin Mc Pherson 20.
Ryan Shun and Jermaine Grosvenor took two wickets each for GNIC, who, in reply, managed 175-6 before their overs expired. Shun returned with the bat to top score with 80, smashing seven sixes and three fours. He received support from Quincy Ovid Richardson 50 with whom he added 81 in their third wicket partnership.
Jason Heyliger 3-9 and Raun Johnson 3-15 did the damaged bowling for Police.
