A TYPICAL robust innings from national opener Trevon Griffith and Guyana and West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, helped host Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) defeat a hapless looking Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by 54 runs in their replayed fixture of this year’s Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organized Carib Beer sponsored first division T20 competition last Monday.Playing at the DCC ground in Queenstown last Monday, after their scheduled first round game was washed out by the rain two Sundays ago, DCC won the toss and opted to bat first, following which openers Griffith 58 (4×4, 4×6) and Andrew Lyght Jnr 34 (3×6, 2×4) posted 80 from 10 overs for the first wicket.
However, MSC through the efforts of Shaquille Williams dislodged Lyght Jnr who lost his middle stump immediately after the water break and he was quickly followed by Griffith who was bowled by Steven Sankar (2-36).
Their demise paved the way for Barnwell and certainly the robust right handed middle -order batsman did not disappoint his fans, hitting a belligerent 44 that was decorated with five sixes and one four, before he was dismissed off a slower delivery from Kellon Carmichael (2 for 35).
In their hunt to score quickly, the home team who won the last GCA organised T20 tournament three years ago by defeating Guyana National Industrial Corporation in a rain ruined final at DCC, lost wickets regularly but managed to reach 199 for 7 from their 20 overs.
Cordell Mars took 2 for 28 to support Sankar and Carmichael in the bowling department for MSC, who in reply were tottering on 12 for 3 in the third over, as they lost their opener and skipper Shemroy Barrington in the first over when he was trapped lbw by Paul Wintz.
He was followed back to the cool comforts of the pavilion by Williams, who was caught off Andre Stoll, before Carmichael, who topscored with 64 (5×6, 4×4) and Nichosie Barker joined forces to repair the early damage with their 62 runs fourth wicket partnership.
Left arm spinner Totaram Bishun, who two weeks ago spun DCC to the GCA/Hadi’s Mall Inc. two day first division title, dismissed Barker for 20 (2×6) before Carmichael hoisted him over the midwicket boundary for one of his five sixes, to realize his half- century.
The task of getting to their target proved to be a huge one for the Thomas Lands based MSC lineup, who called it quits and were limited to 145 for 7, even though Sankar returned to hit three sixes in his unbeaten 34, even as Bishun, Wintz and Kevin George took two wickets each for DCC.
The GCA’s Competitions Committee, led by Chairman Shaun Massiah, will now look to complete the other unplayed first round fixture featuring GNIC and Everest Cricket Club at an early date, even as they focus on getting the second round started, as well as commencing their 2013-2014 Hadi’s Mall Inc. first division tournament.

(Calvin Roberts)