THE FINALISTS for the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)-organised, Ansa McAl’s Carib Beer-sponsored first division T20 competition, which was launched last November, will be known this afternoon at the conclusion of the two semifinals, which will be contested at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

Nine first division teams were placed in two groups of four and five at the launching, when the draw was made for the preliminary round matches, at the end of which Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) topped Zone ‘A’ with 69 points, having played unbeaten in all four of their matches.
Police Sports Club (PSC) ended as runners-up in that Zone with 54 points, winning three and losing one of their matches, while in Zone ‘B’, defending champions DCC claimed the pole position with 66 points, Guyana National Industrial Corporation second, having accumulated 57 points, with both sides winning three matches and suffering losses to each other.
Today’s semifinal matchup pits GCC, who will have in their lineup newly selected Guyana Amazon Warriors duo Leon Johnson and Robin Bacchus, against GNIC whose team includes West Indies Cricket Board Senior Chairman of Selectors Clyde Butts and his Guyana Cricket Board counterpart Rayon Griffith, in the first encounter which bowls off at 09:30hrs.
The second match will see the Christopher Barnwell-led DCC unit, including Paul Wintz, match strides with the Trevor and Troy Benn-led PSC unit from 13:30hrs. Shannon Crawford and Colin Alfred will be the men in charge of both contests.
The GCC will feature Devon Lord, Martin Pestano-Belle, Royston Alkins, Treon Forde, Joshua Wade, Ellon Fernandes and Chidanand Shivram, while GNIC will look to skipper Dexter Solomon, Clyde’s son Collis, Leroy Bristol, Ranole Bourne, Ejaz Mohammed and national opener Assad Fudadin, to pilot them into the final.
In the second game, the hosts will have Andre Stoll, Trevon Griffith, Dennis Squires, Denver Greaves and Totaram Bishun offering support to Barnwell and Wintz, as they look to resist arrest against PSC. The hard-hitting Ricardo Adams, Rawle Browne, Kelvin Leitch and Jason Heyliger will be supporting the Benn siblings.
Keen and exciting cricket is expected, with the final set for a date and a venue to be announced by the organisers, who are looking to have a party atmosphere on that day.

(By Calvin Roberts)