THE LAST time defending champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) faced Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) in a Georgetown Cricket Association/Ansa McAl Carib Beer first division T20 competition, the former won by 72 runs, thanks to Christopher Barnwell’s robust innings.

Yesterday, the same two teams met in their final round clash of the same competition at the same Malteenoes Sports Club ground, and it was GNIC who came out victorious, doing so by 43 runs in another exciting encounter.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first in hazy conditions, GNIC rattled up 158 for 5 from their 20 overs, with skipper Dexter Solomon leading the way with his authoritative and unbeaten 53 that was decorated with six fours and two sixes off 30 balls.
Earlier, Marc Nicholson 13 (2×4) and national opener Assad Fudadin 26 (28 balls, 2×4; 1×6) added 31 for the first wicket in four overs, before Nicholson, who had earlier struck Paul Wintz for a four in the first over, was caught by Denver Greaves off Wintz who ended with 1 for 24.
Fudadin and Ranole Bourne pushed the score to 65, with Bourne, who struck four fours and a six off Totaram Bishun (2 for 18) in his 32-ball 36, seeing Fudadin caught at long on by Dennis Squires when he looked to hit Bishun over that area.
Ejaz Mohammed (12) came but did not last long, as he was outfoxed by Bishun who saw Greaves complete a lightning-quick stumping and from 90 for 2, GNIC slipped to 116 for 5 losing Bourne and Guyana Cricket Board Senior Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith (0) to Kevin George (2 for 43) in the 17th over.
In their reply, DCC lost both Jahron Byron and Greaves without scoring to be one for 2, before Barnwell, who struck Ifill into the nearby Tutorial High School for his lone six, and Cleon McEwan repaired the damage with their 43-run second-wicket partnership.
However, when Barnwell was brilliantly caught by a leaping Royston Simon at deep long-on off Ifill at 44 for 3 for his 19-ball 34 (4×4, 1×6), DCC slipped into dire straits at 82 for 6, losing McEwan (13), Antonell Atwell (7) and Squires who made an entertaining 7–ball 18 (2×6, 1×4).
Wintz 20 (17 balls, 3×6) and Dexter George (1) pushed the score to 107, with Wintz hitting Leroy Bristol for two sixes in the 15th over, followed by another off West Indies Cricket Board Senior Chairman of Selectors Clyde Butts.
Such efforts were a little too late for DCC, who crawled to 116 for 9 off their 20 overs, as Bristol and Ifill ended with 2 wickets each for 19 and 23 runs respectively for GNIC, who will now face Georgetown Cricket Club in their semifinal matchup while DCC will oppose Police Sports Club on a date to be announced.

(By Calvin Roberts)