A commanding double century from Demerara Cricket Club’s (DCC) Tevin Imlach coupled with a Christopher Barnwell century and a five-wicket haul from Raj Nanan stood out but the Guyana National Industrial Cooperation (GNIC) held on to secure a draw yesterday.
Day two of the Georgetown Cricket Association/GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall, first-division, two-day tournament fixture saw the defending champions, DCC, resuming on 206 for three and converting it to 471 for eight declared replying to GNIC’s first innings score of 52 for nine. GNIC then saw out the day to end on 104 for seven.
Tevin Imlach converted his overnight score of 102 to 213 from 188 deliveries. The 25-year-old right-hander was put down twice before crossing the 150-run mark. He also survived a stumping opportunity and made GNIC pay by hitting 12 sixes including a flat sweep over square leg and 18 fours.
After the innings, Imlach told Stabroek Sport, that this innings will do a lot for his confidence adding that the intention was to bat positively while compensating for the time lost due to rain.
“The plan was just to apply myself, play straight and go about it just as I would in a four-day game and spend time, so it was just about application, playing straight and moving on from there,” he said.
Imlach added, “DCC is a small ground, the outfield is pretty fast so it was about picking the gaps and once you applied yourself, you would do well.”
The Guyana first-class player, however, was caught on the mid-wicket boundary to hand off-spinner, Premchand Sookdeo his fifth wicket. He ended with 5-118.
DCC captain, Christopher Barnwell, also turned his even half century from the day before to 102 from 76 balls. His innings was highlighted by 12 fours and four sixes before he retired ending the 180-run partnership for the fourth-wicket with Imlach.
“We work very well together. He is someone who tends to hit the ball. I kind of play the anchor role and so we work well together. I am accustomed to working with him, we have good communication,” Imlach said of the partnership.
When Barnwell retired hurt, Joshua Persaud came to the crease to smash three sixes and six fours before departing for an entertaining 36-ball 56.
GNIC’s second innings was rocked consistently by the DCC spinners as left-arm spinner, Nanan picked up 5-45 and leg-spinner, Steven Sankar grabbed 2-28.
After Rashidi Benjamin was caught at first slip off of the second delivery of the innings bowled by Nanan, Ovid Richardson resisted with a gritty 65 from 59 balls that featured seven fours and two sixes before being bowled by Sankar playing on the backfoot.
Richardson added 47 for the third wicket with Jeremiah Benjamin who made 26 from 27 balls. No other batsman reached double figures.
