Experienced first class all-rounder, Christopher Barnwell recorded a pugnacious second innings fifty, his second of the match to power Georgetown to a five-wicket victory over Lower Corentyne in the latest round of the Guyana Cricket Board/Jaguars three- day franchise league at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara, yesterday.
The victory was set up by Jamaican all-rounder, Ramaal Lewis, who captured his maiden five – wicket haul in Guyana to dismiss the Berbicians.
The two performances were contrasting as Barnwell had to use all of his experience to battle on a wearing pitch while off – spinner Lewis enjoyed the wear.
Georgetown resumed their innings on 154 – 8 with the overnight pair; Barnwell on 73 and Ashmead Nedd not yet off the mark.
They were dismissed a mere 1.3 overs into the second day, failing to add to their overnight total while handing Lower Corentyne first innings honours and an 11-run lead.
Barnwell, who was the last man dismissed by left – arm orthodox spinner, Kassim Khan, spent nearly 90 minutes at the crease while dispatching five fours and a similar number of maximums in his first knock back in Guyana after completing his commitments with the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which ended last night.
Lower Corentyne’s bowling effort was led by Kassim Khan, who snared 5 – 49 while receiving support from fellow spinners Devon Clements (2-21) and national under – 17 spinner, Kelvin Umroa (2-52).
However, Lower Corentyne in their second innings, found themselves in a spot of bother after reaching 75 for four at the luncheon interval after skipper Barnwell created chances by crowding the batters with men under the bat while smartly rotating his spinners, who enjoyed the conditions to account for three of the four wickets to fall.
Sean Hetymer on 24 and Devon Clements on seven were the men at the crease, with the former looking poised for a big score as the Berbicians carried their lead to 86 at the interval.
Hetymer, a stylish right – hander, pushed on after the break to reach his 50, a knock decorated with smart running between the wickets and a scintillating on-drive off Barnwell for four.
They, however, lost Clements (7) in the first over after the break to hand Jamaican all-rounder, Lewis his second scalp of the day.
He combined with Akeem Hinds (23) for a seventh-wicket partnership of 47 to push their side past the 100-run mark as Lower Corentyne built on their second innings lead.
With the game slipping away from Georgetown, leg – spinner, Steven Sankar, provided the breakthrough by removing Hetymer LBW for well compiled 53, which spanned 93 deliveries and was decorated with three fours and two sixes to leave the score on 125 – 6.
Regular wickets fell from that point on as Lewis wrapped up the innings on the stroke of tea with the score on 145, after grabbing 5 – 35 from 17 overs while Sankar supported with 3 – 29.
Georgetown, in pursuit of 157 for victory, found themselves in a dodgy position early on after Robin Bacchus (18) and Kellon Carmichael (0) both perished to left – arm spinner, Khan.
The city side then benefitted from a rescue mission orchestrated by Barnwell and Raymond Perez, who mixed aggression with regular rotation of the strike to carry the score to 126 – 3 before Barnwell fell for a pugnacious 79 from 71 balls, inclusive of seven giant sixes and three fours.
Barnwell was especially severe on the spinners, smoking five sixes before reaching his 50, which came off 51 balls while Perez watched from the other end, occasionally skipping down the track and finding the ropes himself.
They eventually reached 157 -5 in 37.4 overs after Perez (39) and Lewis (13) gifted their wickets away.
Khan ended with 4 -56 for a match haul of 9 – 105. (RA)
