“I THINK it was an up and down performance from our team. We did not play to the best of our ability while the batting department was up and down as well, as we did not get the best out of some of our batsmen and that is one of the areas that let us down a lot in the tournament.”

Those were the sentiments coming from the vice-captain of Guyana’s 2013 CT20 team Christopher Barnwell, who took time out from witnessing the Demerara versus GT&T Berbice Inter-county four-day matchup at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday, to speak with Chronicle Sport.
Having finished in the second runner-up position behind defending champions and eventual winners Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, Guyana faced the Jamaicans in an electrifying semifinal matchup, coming out victorious by six wickets, thanks to Barnwell’s robust 88.
Barnwell followed up his unbeaten 61 in the preliminary stage of the Caribbean T20 against the Leeward Islands, with a blistering 88 that upstaged Chris Gayle’s belligerent 122 not out, as Guyana qualified for the final against Trinidad and Tobago with a stunning victory against Jamaica in the Playoff last Saturday.
“I think overall it was a good performance. At the start of the tournament I didn’t get the sort of scores I was looking for, but when we went St Lucia I knew I had to come with some big innings for my team, and at the end of the day I did. I must say overall it was a good tournament for me; I’m satisfied with the way I batted and the way I bowled,” the Demerara Cricket Club member commented.
In the playoff, Jamaica racked up 183-6 with Gayle belting a record 12 sixes, but the Guyanese responded in stunning fashion, knocking off the target with six wickets standing, and eight balls to spare.
Barnwell, who orchestrated the run-chase after coach Esaun Crandon granted his request to bat at number four, said the players were confident of chasing down the target, noting that it was just a matter of doing the basics, and playing every ball on its merit.
“From the start, we always believed and backed ourselves to the end, and we knew that the way the wicket was playing, we just needed to go out there and play positive cricket, and back ourselves right down to the end.
“We always knew that once we got off  to a good start, and not lose many wickets up front, we were in with a good chance. I asked the coach to bat at four and I just went out there and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I just played the ball as I saw it and just backed myself, and took calculated risks when I needed to, so I think at the end of the day it paid off for us.”
Earlier in the evening, Barnwell and the rest of the Guyana team had the best seat in the house, viewing at close range, a brutal Gayle at his very best, smashing his way to first hundred in the history of the competition.
“We all know that Chris is a dangerous player. We bowled well up front to keep him in check, but you know the way he plays; he always has the ability to make up, and I think he chose the bowlers to target, so I think it was a fantastic innings from him,” Barnwell said.
Speaking on his personal performance in the tournament, Barnwell said he was quite pleased to contribute with bat and ball to the team’s cause, while he felt a bit disappointed that the job was not fully done with Permaul lifting the CT20 title Sunday night.
“We knew from the onset that we would have to play four days of cricket when we touch down in St Lucia, if we needed to be in the final, so while I would say fatigue may have played a part in our performance against Trinidad in the final, it is not an excuse as we are all professionals in our own way.
“I think the bowlers did a fantastic job, with Steven (Jacobs) playing a vital role with the new ball for us and Beaton (Ronsford) bowling with pace and aggression every opportunity we got, while Bishoo (Devendra), Crandon (Royston) and myself chipped in to aid the team cause,” added Barnwell.
The Demerara Cricket Club all-rounder who played four T20 Internationals for the West Indies, has now turn his attention to the WICB Regional four-day and Super50 tournament, where he hopes to continue his impressive form with both bat and ball.
“I am looking to have another magnificent tournament for Guyana in the four-day and Super50 starting soon, since my intention is to continue in this fine form that I am in with both bat and ball, so I can give myself a great chance to wear the maroon cap, especially with Zimbabwe set to tour the West Indies early this year,” opined Barnwell.