PLAYED in scorching heat yesterday at the historic Bourda, Malteenoes denied GCC a second consecutive title after the Bourda lads had beaten hosts DCC in a 50-over first-division final recently, when the Thomas Lands team beat the home team by three runs to take the Sherwin Williams second-division T20 title.

In a controversial to highly competitive and tension-filled match, watched by a large and raucous gathering, GCC’s skipper, former West Indies left-hander and Guyana’s most successful first-class captain Leon Johnson’s well crafted, unbeaten 71 from 53 balls decorated with eight fours and a six failed to see GCC home in a dramatic last-over finish.

Chasing MSC’s 194-3, the hosts reached 191-7 after it was confirmed after a lengthy delay, that GCC had batted the last with eight required to win after being given the game off the penultimate ball contrary the regulations for yesterday’s final that spoke to slow over rate.

Johnson, who anchored the innings, did not receive any meaningful support after Joshu Wade, who blasted three sixes and two fours in the first over which cost 29 from off-spinner Jonti Wade, fell to off-spinner Nkhosie Barker for a pugnacious 20-ball 57, with six sixes and four fours.

Timothy Mcalmount chipped in with 22 with two sixes before he fell to Thomas at 131-5 in 14 overs

Barker ended with 2-30 and pacer Cordel Mars had 2-32 for MSC, who had earlier made 194-3 with Marcus Watkin scoring a match-winning unbeaten 66 from 45 balls with seven fours and four sixes.

Adrian Hinds (11) and former Guyana first-class opener Shemroy Barrington added 38 for the first wicket before Hinds was removed by Wade.

Barrington (17 with 3 sixes) retired hurt at 73-1 before Jerimiah Scott (40) and Barker (23) were dismissed by Jonhson, bowling leg-spin.

Left-hander Damion Van Tull clobbered an undefeated 28 from 11 balls with four sixes.