Christian, Griffith and Johnson shine as DCC, GCC and MSC advance to final four
NEWLY selected West Indies T20 wicketkeeper/batsman Derwin Christian, his Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) teammate Trevon Griffith and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) skipper Leon Johnson struck half-centuries to guide their team into the final four of the Georgetown Cricket Association-organised Queensway Cup yesterday.
Malteenoes Sports Club also joined DCC and GCC in the semifinals, after clinically disposing of Ace Warriors by eight wickets at the Everest Cricket Club ground, while DCC and GCC defeated Police Sports Club and Transport Sports Club respectively on their home grounds.
At Everest, Ace Warriors won the toss and decided to take first strike in hazy conditions before they were bowled out for 91 in 25.3 overs by the Thomas Lands-based MSC unit, with extras top-scoring with 34 while Clayon Halley struck two fours in his 23 before being the last wicket to fall.
Off-spinner Steven Jacobs took 2 for 5 while fast bowler Seon Daniels and former national T20 spinner Dion Ferrier took two wickets for 17 runs each for MSC, who reached 92 for 2 from 18 overs in reply, thanks to Kwame Crosse’s unbeaten 31 (2×4), Nichosie Barker (24), Carlos La Rose (13) and Danny Narayan (10*) against the bowling of Abzal Gafoor and Mortland Ward who took one wicket each.
At DCC, the home team took first strike against the lawmen and thanks to Christian, who celebrated his call-up to the West Indies with a robust 82 off 47 balls, decorated with nine sixes and two fours, along with Griffith’s pugnacious 58 (4×4) at the top of the order, raced to 349 off 47.4 overs.
West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell struck four sixes and two fours in his 46, while Jahron Byron 38 (4×4), Denver Greaves 35 (2×6, 2×4) and Omesh Dhanram 24 offered valuable support to Christian who featured in several partnerships during his team’s innings.
After witnessing the demise of Andrew Lyght Jr who was caught by Troy Benn off his brother Trevor for 19 (2×4, 1×6), Griffith and Byron added 75 for the second wicket, before Christian and Greaves posted 77 for the sixth wicket and Christian and Dhanram 61 for the ninth wicket.
Jason Heyliger with 4 for 59 and Vishal Jaigobin 3 for 73 did the damage for PSC, who were bowled out for 94 scored off 24.4 overs in reply, to hand DCC victory by 255 runs.
Ryan Rajmangal top-scored with 35 that included three fours and one six struck off Totaram Bishun, while Rodwayne Warde (12), Rawle Browne (11) and Troy Benn with 10 were the other batsmen to reach double figures.
Bishun and Dennis ‘Bitterman’ Squires ended with three wickets each for 21 and 33 runs respectively while Paul Wintz who started the slide with a double strike in his third over, ended with 2 for 14.
The semi-finals of the inaugural competition is set for this weekend, with GCC hosting Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) who were the first team to reach the final four, following their victory last week at GCC, while DCC and MSC will meet at DCC, with the winners colliding in the final the following day.