… Berbice players face penalty for participation
DESPITE an unbeaten half-century from West Indies ‘A’ team batsman Assad Fudadin, Christopher Barnwell’s XI failed to reach their target of 152, falling short by eight runs in the lone T20 trial match at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, against the Royston-Crandon XI yesterday. On a sadder note, players from the Ancient County of Berbice who participated in the match may face a penalty for participating in the match that was used to select the Guyana team to face Trinidad and Tobago in two T20 practice matches at the same venue next Tuesday and Wednesday.
They were summoned to a meeting with the Berbice Cricket Board at 16:30hrs Monday afternoon at the BCB’s office in New Amsterdam.
After being asked to take first strike by their opponents on a pitch that was offering lots of bounce to the fast bowlers, Crandon’s XI reached 151 for 5 from their 20 overs, thanks to Andrew Lyght Jr’s 27-ball 42 that included three sixes and a similar number of fours.
They got a nice start from Lyght Jr and Shemroy Barrington (19) who pulled the second delivery from Veerasammy Permaul (2-16) for six, over wide midwicket as they posted 28 for the first wicket before Barrington was taken in the solitary slip position by Leon Johnson off Permaul.
Lyght is known for his aggressive attitude and he displayed same yesterday by hitting Johnson back down the ground for four, followed by a six over long off to raise his team’s 50. Shortly after that he struck Johnson for two more sixes, followed by back-to-back fours off Devon Clements before he was caught by Barnwell at cover off Clements to leave his team on 83 for 3 in the 11th over.
Lusty hitting from Steven Jacobs and Crandon who made 25 and 24 respectively, coupled with Jonathan Foo’s unbeaten 17 (2×4), pushed Crandon’s XI to their eventual total, with Clements and Kellon Carmichael taking one wicket each in support to Permaul.
Barnwell’s XI reply got off to a disastrous start when they lost the wicket of the pugnacious Trevon Griffith, caught by Lyght at extra cover off Paul Wintz who ended with 2 for 28 from his four overs.
Rajendra Chandrika suggested permanence when he started slowly, before hitting Wintz for two fours, but he picked out Jacobs after attempting to pull a short delivery from Kevin Ogle after which, Fudadin struck the said bowler for four while Robin Bacchus pulled Raj Nannan over wide long on for six.
Barnwell’s XI were in deep trouble at 69 for 4 in the 12th over, when Bacchus was stumped by Anthony Bramble off Crandon for 18. Johnson failed to beat Wintz’s throw from point after being sent back by Fudadin.
The skipper strode to the wicket and looked to increase the scoring rate, with a six and four off Crandon while at the other end Fudadin pulled Narsingh Deonarine for six, before Deonarine induced Barnwell to hole out to Foo at long on.
Crandon must have regretted bowling the 17th over as he was plundered for 4, 6, 2 and 6 by newly selected West Indies T20 wicketkeeper/batsman Derwin Christian who raced to 21 from 11 balls with two sixes and one four before he was bowled by Wintz’s first delivery of the 19th over.
Left to score 16 from the final over which was bowled by Jacobs, Barnwell’s XI only got eight of those as the right-arm off-spinner kept a tight rein on things even though Fudadin followed up his unbeaten half-century which he scored for GCC in the Georgetown Cricket Association/Queensway Cup two weeks ago, with this one which took him 45 balls to accumulate and was decorated with four fours and one six.
Deonarine, Ogle, Jacobs and Crandon ended with one wicket each in support to Wintz, as Crandon’s XI cruised home comfortably for the win.
The team to oppose T&T in the two matches was selected immediately after the match, along with five standby players, while Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith said time did not permit for more than one match to be played.
“I would have loved to have another match played before the first game on Tuesday. Unfortunately for us, time did not permit same due to what was going on off the field of play. Added to that, I must say that I am not pleased with the performances of some of the players, but I think we got enough to select a team,” said Griffith.
When asked about the players from the Ancient County who were threatened with a penalty fine if they turn up to play, Griffith said he was not aware of such but did say the numerous phone calls that were coming during the course of the match was disturbing and unprofessional.
“I am unaware of what fate awaits the players when they turn up for their meeting with the Berbice Cricket Board on Monday afternoon, but what I was not pleased with was the numerous phone calls the players received during the course of the match.
Earlier this week, former Guyana and West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd opined that the off-the-field situations may have played a part in Guyana’s below par performance on the field and I feel that some of the players who were out there today, were thinking more of the penalty they may face instead of playing the game the way they know how,” stated Griffith.
While no captain has been named, with Crandon being recommended for the position, the 13-man squad reads: Shemroy Barrington, Trevon Griffith, Narsingh Deonarine, Steven Jacobs, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Jonathan Foo, Devendra Bishoo, Paul Wintz, Assad Fudadin, Andrew Lyght Jr and Kellon Carmichael.
The five standby players are: Rajiv Ivan, Anthony Bramble, Leon Johnson, Amir Khan and Raj Nannan and the squad will have a practice session under coach Mark Harper on Monday afternoon from 14:00hrs at a venue to be named.