In an exhilarating display of batting prowess, Christopher Barnwell stole the spotlight with a remarkable innings of 133 runs in the GISE Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall First Division Two-day tournament held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in Georgetown.
Under clear skies at the DCC ground, the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) took the crease first and posted a total of 179 runs in their first innings.
Opener Andrew Lyght led the charge with a resilient knock of 88, supported by Keon Morris with 24 runs.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, MYO managed to reach 179 runs, thanks to some disciplined bowling by Demerara’s Ezekil Wilson, who claimed four wickets, while Steven Sankar and Christopher Barnwell secured two wickets each.
In response, Demerara showcased their batting prowess, with national Guyanese middle-order batter Raymond Perez and opener Brandon Jaikaran laying a solid foundation with scores of 84 and 77, respectively.
However, it was the explosive innings of former national all-rounder Christopher Barnwell that turned the tide in Demerara’s favor.
Barnwell’s scintillating knock of 133 runs, embellished with ten fours and 11 towering sixes, propelled Demerara to a commanding position after their first innings.
With a daunting target set, MYO faltered in their second innings, getting bowled out for 151 runs.
Off-spinner Ezekil Wilson starred with the ball for DCC, claiming an impressive six wickets for 29 runs, securing ten wickets in the entire match.
Supported by Mark Cumerbatch with two wickets and Barnwell with one, Wilson’s stellar bowling performance helped DCC clinch victory by an innings and 138 runs, with Abdul Ramsammy top-scoring for MYO with 57 runs.
In other two-day matches, stellar performances from players like Ranaldo Alo-Mohamed, Ravaldo Philips, and Aryan Persaud led Georgetown Cricket Club to a resounding victory over Guyana Defence Force by an innings and 131 runs on home turf.
As the GISE Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall First Division Two-day tournament unfolds, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more thrilling encounters and standout performances from the participating teams.
By Tyriq Walters