A HEAVY downpour ruined what was potentially a tricky run-chase for the Georgetown Cricket Scorers and Umpires Association (GCS&UA) in their T20 clash against the Media XI last Monday, at the world renowned Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda. 

The no-result put a damper on the day, especially since the Media boys and their opponents had exchanged verbal punches via the press and even during their warm-up sessions, with the hope of settling the scores once and for all in the ‘middle’.
The day started with GCS&UA skipper Arleigh Rutherford calling correctly at the toss and immediately deciding to insert the Calvin Roberts-led Media XI side to take first strike on a slow track in slightly overcast conditions.
The right/left hand combination of John Ramsingh and Rajiv Bisnauth started cautiously for the Media XI, picking the singles and occasional twos as the GCS&UA utilised the moisture on the pitch to good effect.
Bisnauth stroked the first boundary in the fourth over, but just as he was starting to gain confidence and momentum, he was trapped leg-before by left-arm spinner Trevor Ritney for nine.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Daniel Singh (2) and Avenash Ramzan (0) did not last long, both falling to Ritney as the Media XI struggled against the spinner, with Singh being spectacularly caught on the square leg boundary by Devin Austin, while Ramzan was bowled the very next delivery hitting across the line.
The hard-hitting Keon Blade (1), Sean Devers (1) and Roberts (6) also found the going tough as the Media XI stumbled to 43-6 by the 14th over.
It took a fighting partnership of 48 between the National Communications Network (NCN) pair of Ramsingh and the left-hander Ravi Persaud, which ended off the final delivery of the innings, to prop up the Media XI’s innings.
The burly Ramsingh batted through his team’s innings to end with a solid and unbeaten 32 which included a solitary boundary struck off Daniel Richmond, while Persaud hit a breezy 24 (2×4) before he holed out to substitute Colin Stuart at deep midwicket off Shaun Massiah.
Ritney ended with three wickets and got support from Nigel Duguid who picked up two for the GCS&UA who were asked to make their reply on a pitch that was offering much assistance to the bowlers but were denied doing so due to the rain which came during the break and put a halt to proceedings.
After the match was called off, the two teams decided to meet again in another T20 contest, tentatively set for CARICOM Day at a venue to be announced, even as the Media XI prepare to take on an Enmore Over-40 lineup in another T20 clash at Enmore this Sunday from 14:00hrs.
The Media fraternity wishes to thank Lifetime Realty, Trophy Stall, P&P Insurance Brokers, Western Union, the Guyana Amazon Warriors Energy Drink, Christopher Matthias, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and the management of GCC, especially coach Monty Lynch for their tangible support in making the match a reality.

(Calvin Roberts)