Five overs into the final day’s play of the Georgetown Cricket Association GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall first-division two-day final, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ensured they retained their championship for the third straight season by virtue of first innings points over nemesis Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).
Resuming on 90 for eight and still 500 runs behind at DCC, GCC could only add two to their total as they were bowled out in 25.2 overs. DCC, already securing the $120,000 first prize, then enjoyed batting practice as they went in to lunch on 105 for four after 27 overs but no play was possible due to rain forcing the umpires to call off the match at 13.30 hours.
Earlier, Totaram Bishun quickly wrapped up the GCC innings with the final two wickets of Thaddeous Lovell who could not add to his overnight total of 10 and the injured Daniel Seegobin who did not score to end with 4-39.
GCC, who settled for the second prize of $70,000, much like the first day, were sloppy in the field, putting down Raj Nanan on four and again on 17. He went on to score 32 not out from 46 balls, laced with four fours and one six.
Nanan added 54 for the fourth wicket with Jamal Byron who made use of a missed stumping on 17, to make 27 from 59 balls. His innings was decorated with three boundaries before a leading edge to point off of Winston Forrester ended his knock. Sachin Singh (17) and Peter Perez (10) were the other contributors.
Lovell ended with 2-23 and Ronaldo Alimohamed, 1-18.
During the presentation ceremony, GISE’s Verline Van-Lange said it was a pleasure to finally see the end of the tournament that started so long ago. She said that it was always the hope of the founder of GISE to give back and one of the ways he did so was through cricket.
Winning captain Christopher Barnwell said, “It was a wonderful final…congratulations to my team, it was good to come and defend the championship the way we did.”
Barnwell gave GCC the thumbs up stating that it was a learning experience and cautioning them to expect these things along the way and learn from them going forward.
Losing captain, Devon Lord told Stabroek Sport his side did fairly well to come to the final.. “But unfortunately the partnership between Christopher Barnwell and Trevon Griffith came together, showcased their talent, played very well and batted us out the game completely where we had little answers and basically that was where the game turned for us.”
He pointed out that the dropped catches proved costly as both batsmen were put down in the 40s with Griffith going on to make 300 and Barnwell, 175.
GCA President, Neil Barry congratulated DCC for winning the title for a third time but recalled that despite the interruption of the tournament, there was an excellent final which saw great exhibition of batting which straddles the three formats of cricket.
Barry praised the introduction of a live scoring app that allowed cricket lovers to follow the association’s competition from all parts of the world.
The awards were judged excluding the semi-final and finals.
Griffith walked away with several accolades including Player of the Final for this triple century, best bowling figures of the tournament and in Zone A (15-87 vs GCC), most wickets (23). His best bowling figures in an innings was 8-53.
Barnwell carted off the most runs in the tournament and Zone A award with 425 runs including a best of 134 against University of Guyana (UG) at an average of 70.3. He also copped the top all-rounder with 14 wickets, six catches and one run out.
Bhaskar Yadram of semi-finalist, Everest Cricket Club had the lion’s share of awards, winning the most wickets (15) with a best of 10-107 against Malteenoes and top all-rounder with 275 run, four catches and two run outs.
Kevon Boodie of semi-finalists, Police Sports Club finished as the leading run scorer with 301 runs featuring a best of 161 against Transport Sports Club.
GCC’s Leon Johnson had the highest score of the competition with an unbeaten double hundred against UG.
