GCB T10 Blast
-Barnwell leads Demerara Pitbulls to victory over Berbice Piranhas
By Michaelangelo Jacobus
Fans at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground on Thomas Lands were treated to a thriller as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) T10 Blast continued yesterday.
Abdul Ramsammy turned in a brilliant all-round performance with bat and ball to lead his side, the Essequibo Anacondas, to a one run win over their brother franchise, the Essequibo Jaguars.
Jaguars skipper Kemol Savory called the toss correctly and inserted the Anacondas to bat, and with the latter struggling at 23/6 in the sixth over, it seemed as though Savory and the Jaguars were on course for a successful hunt.
Enter Ramsammy, it did not take long for him to get into his work, after facing a few deliveries, and with his side at 31/6 at the start of the 8th over, he took apart medium pacer Carlos La Rose, scoring 22 from the over. He struck three consecutive fours, albeit two being edges, and then deposited La Rose on the roof of the pavilion for a six. Having already smashed the first four deliveries for 18 runs, Ramsammy struck another sweetly timed four to take it to 22 from five deliveries but could not score off the final delivery of the over.
From there, Ramsammy shepherded his side to a competitive 73/7 from their allotted 10 overs, ending on 35 not out from just 15 balls which included six fours and the solitary six.
Bowling for the Jaguars, Dwain Dick had wrecked the Anacondas’ top order with 2/2 from his one over, he received support from Joemal Lafleur, Ashmeade Nedd and Nial Smith who all took a wicket apiece.
In chase of 74 for victory, the Jaguars lost the early wicket of opener Shemroy Barrington for a 2-ball duck, caught by Thaddeus Lovell off the bowling of Bruce Vincent. However, Chandrapaul Hemraj (39 from 16 balls) launched a scathing counterattack in a shot filled innings which saw the diminutive left-handed opener smashing four sixes and three fours. At 52/1 in the fifth over, the Jaguars looked on course for an easy win but the Anacondas had other ideas. Hemraj was removed by Quamar Torrington leaving the Jaguars at 52/2, from that point, the tide turned as the Anacondas pinned the Jaguars batsmen with disciplined bowling while consistently taking wickets. The Jaguars skipper Savory laboured to a 14-ball 12 before he was run out while Joemal Lafleur was stumped off the bowling of spinner Kwesi Mickle to leave their side teetering at 68/4 in the 9th over.
Tasked with bowling the 10th and final over with just four runs to defend, Ramsammy took the ball and delivered for his side with his offspin. He began with a dot as Ashmead Nedd swung for the hills and missed, the next delivery, Nedd again swung but got an inside edge, and scampered for two. With just two more required for victory from four deliveries, it looked as though the Jaguars would triumph in the end. Ramsammy would nip that in the bud by bowling Nedd. Still, with two to get from three deliveries, a win was always on the card for the Jaguars. But, again, Ramsammy delivered, as Dwain Dick walked across his stumps trying to paddle the ball, but missed as Ramsammy struck the stumps.
Kevin Kisten, the wicketkeeper-batsman came in with two needed from two and could not score from his first ball faced, with two needed from the last delivery, the young Kisten went for a big swipe, missed the ball completely but set off for a single after the ball fell to silly point. The Anacondas wicket-keeper, Kevon Boodie had the presence of mind to gather the ball quickly and sent it to Ramsammy at the non-strikers end and he duly obliged, whipping the bails off to run out Kisten and secure the win by the slimmest of margins.
Ramsammy ended with figures of 2/9 from two overs while Mickle, Torrington and Vincent each had a wicket. For his efforts, Ramsammy was adjudged man of the match.
Meanwhile in the second game of the day, the Demerara Pitbulls posted 93/7 from their 10 overs after skipper Christopher Barnwell won the toss and elected to bat against the Berbice Piranhas. Their charge was led by a belligerent 34 (19 balls, 4sx3, 6sx2) from opener Sachin Singh while Leon Swamy (12), Damian Vantull (13) and Jonathan Rampersaud (13 not out) all chipped in.
Bowling for the Piranhas, Saga Hathiramani took 2/18 (2 overs) while he received valuable back up from Rajiv Ivan (1/6, 2 overs) and Garfield Phillips who took 1/9 (2 overs).
In chase of 94 for victory, the Piranhas were stopped in their tracks as the Pitbulls took continual bites out of their run-chase with Barnwell leading the way with 2/18 (2 overs) while Leon Swamy (2/10) and Keon Sinclair (2/21, 2 overs) also played key roles in restricting the Piranhas to 79/9 (10 overs).
The tournament continues with a triple header today slated for the Meten-Meer-Zorg Community ground, West Coast Demerara.
The Berbice Caimans will clash with the Demerara Hawks from 10:30 am followed by Essequibo Jaguars versus Berbice Piranhas at 12:30PM and Demerara Pitbulls facing the Demerara Hawks to wrap up the day’s action.
