THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) first division team displayed strong resilience against the pace/spin bowling attack of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), before the home team staged a spirited fightback to end the first day of their Georgetown Cricket Association/Carib Beer/Friends of Cricket/Heroes first division competition in a commanding position yesterday.

Skipper Shemroy Barrington, who will be returning to Malteenoes Sports Club for the knockout tournament that will soon commence, Dillon Heyliger, Randy Lindore and Maxwell Fraser all struck half-centuries for GDF, while Andrew Lyght Jr replied with an unbeaten and pugnacious half-century of his own for DCC.
Barrington struck 10 fours and one six in his 66 and, along with Heyliger and Fraser (63) –  with both batsmen hitting 8 fours and two sixes – and Lindore’s 62 that was decorated with four fours and three sixes – powered GDF to a massive 360 from 67.5 overs, before they were bowled out.
Bishun has been a thorn in DCC’s opponents’ side for the past four years and yesterday was no different, as he took another five-wicket haul, even though it came at the cost of 131 runs, while Paul Wintz chipped in with 2 for 62.
When DCC began their reply, Lyght Jr and Andrew Gibson added 60-odd for the first wicket, with the former tearing into the Army’s bowling attack with disdain, hitting eight fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 72, which helped guide the home team to a comfortable 118 for 1 off 15 overs.
Even though he lost Gibson, who was lbw to Dennis Legay (1-13) for 12 (2×4), Lyght continued to display a no-nonsense approach to the bowlers, hitting Jeremiah Harris over cover point for a six, followed by two sixes off Barrington, while Heyliger was also struck over wide long on for another one of his four sixes.
When play resumes today, DCC will be looking to score the remaining 243 runs to garner in first-innings points, while maintaining their unbeaten record at the first division level on their home ground this season.