THANKS to a pugnacious and unbeaten half century from opener Andrew Lyght Jnr. host club Demerara Cricket Club who is presently celebrating their Centenary Anniversary, defeated Police Sports Club by 31 runs in a 12 overs aside encounter at the DCC ground yesterday afternoon. Lyght, who is the son of former Guyana and West Indies ‘B’ team opener Andrew Lyght Snr., struck eight massive sixes and three fours in his robust 83, which along with Christopher Barnwell’s 41 (4×6, 1×4) and Jamal Hinckson’s 11 (1×6) piloted DCC to 142 for 3 from their 12 overs.
Not a single bowler was spared from the wrath of the related Lyght and Barnwell, who are cousins, as they both tore into the attack after a cautious start, which saw national selectee Trevor Benn who bowled two overs for 19 runs, adding 122 for the first wicket from 6.5 overs.
The energetic Benn was the first bowler to be sent packing, when he was hit back over his head by Lyght, who tore into Fitzroy Culley -whose lone over went for 25 runs- like a hot knife through butter, hitting him to all parts of Lance Gibbs Street, along with skipper Vishal Jaigobin and later on Randolph Knights.
Even though he lost Barnwell, who dispatched Jermaine Reynolds with ease for two sixes, followed by the wickets of Hinckson-after he was given several lives by the lawmen and Derwin Christian, Lyght motored on to take his team to a respectable and eventual winning total.
When PSC began their reply, they were rocked by Trevon Simpson who took 2 for 11 early in their innings, before Reynolds returned to show some fight by hitting eight sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 65, which propelled them to 11 for 5 at the end of their 12 overs.
Young Keanu Harry, who was making his first division debut along with Tevin Imloch for the home team, was giving a rude baptism by Reynolds who struck him for back to back sixes in one of his overs, while the experienced Teralph Scipio was also dispatched for a maximum by Reynolds.
However, it was a little too late for PSC, who lost wickets at a rapid pace early on and when the contest which was witnessed by Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the now defunct Guyana Cricket Board Clive Lloyd, was brought to an end, PSC found themselves short of their target.
The action continues today at the same venue, with DCC taking on the visiting Atlantis Cricket Club from New York in what can be described as the finals from 13:00hrs, with the winner taking home the Andrew Lyght Snr. Memorial T20 trophy.