THANKS to centuries from teenaged opener Shurfane Rutherford and national all rounder Christopher Barnwell, the visiting Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) posted 393 for 5 declared in their first innings of their Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Hadi’s Mall Inc. sponsored two day first division match at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground yesterday.

Batting first in hazy conditions after the host won the toss, DCC who are the defending champions got a raucous start of 57 between Rutherford and the pugnacious Andrew Lyght Jnr, who struck seven fours in his 36 before he was caught at slip by Robin Bacchus off Joshua Wade.
Rutherford, who scored 111 (14×4; 2×6) before he was dismissed by Wade, then added 58 for the second wicket with Jahron Byron (17, 2×4) and a further 36 for the third wicket with Jamal Hinckson (04), before he lost both batsmen, with Byron going via the run out route and Hinckson falling to Onivinand Shivram.
At this stage, with DCC 151 for 3, Barnwell strode to the wicket and joined Rutherford, guiding his junior partner to his maiden first division ton, while Barnwell, who has been struggling for runs in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional four day competition, signalled a return to form with his unbeaten 150.
The robust all rounder struck 12 fours and two sixes even as Antonell Atwell chipped in on the runs scoring feast for the Queenstown based DCC lineup, hitting five fours in his 43 as he added 139 for the fifth wicket with Barnwell, who had Paul Wintz at the other end on 8, when he made the declaration, with the home team reaching 20 odd without loss at the close.
By Calvin Roberts