A destructive spell of chinaman spin bowling by former national youth player, Totaram Bishun, along with their batsmen, lifted the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to day-one honours over the Police Sports Club (PSC) in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), GISE, Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall first division two-day tournament at PSC, yesterday.
PSC batting first was bundled out for 170 with Bishun grabbing a six-for while DCC in response, ended the day on 240 for three with a lead of 70 runs heading into the final day.
The day began with DCC winning the toss and inviting the hosts to take first strike.
Openers Chenroy Kendell and Paul Tyndell had a brief opening stand of 14 before left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd removed the former for eight in the third over.
Tyndell and first drop batsman Kemol Savory then joined forces and added 94 runs for the second wicket during which time both men recorded fifties.
Bishun, however, began to shift the pendulum of the game after removing Tyndell for 53, a knock inclusive of four sixes and six fours to leave the score on 102 – 2.
Andrew Lyght Jr. became Bishun’s second victim as he dislodged his former DCC teammate’s stumps for one.
The left-arm spinner got in the act again when he sniffed out the prize wicket of Savory for an even fifty.
His demise left the score on 124 – 4. The innings collapsed from that point as the lawmen disintegrated for 170 in 42.2 overs with the middle order failing to negate Bishun’s variety as he ended with figures of 6-35 from 12.2 overs.
He received valuable support from seamer Dexter George who held a nagging line to finish with figures of 2-17 from six overs.
DCC in their first innings response raced to 49 for one in the eighth over when they lost opener Trevon Griffith (42) who took a liking to Keston Hardcourt, the very bowler who dismissed him LBW.
Griffith’s demise brought Tevin Imlach to join Sachin Singh at the crease.
The duo remained watchful against seamer Raun Johnson who bowled a troublesome line while they took on the bowlers from the other end to carry DCC past the 100-run mark.
Singh however, who laced three maximums and a four, fell for 41, going for another big shot off the bowling of leg-spinner Vishaul Jaigobin to leave the score on 133- 2.
With his side well within first innings honours, skipper Christopher Barnwell strolled to the crease and hammered a few lusty blows and shared in an 85-run stand with Imlach who grafted an excellent inning of 67 before he was dislodged by Johnson near the close.
Barnwell nonetheless pushed on and ended the day unbeaten on 64 and is with Joshua Persaud on 16 as DCC reached 240 for 3 at the close with the match and title firmly within their grasp.
