Despite a courageous unbeaten century from skipper Christopher Barnwell, West Demerara defeated Georgetown by eight wickets when the fifth-round Guyana Cricket Board Jaguars three-day league ended yesterday at Lusignan.
Needing a further 113 to make West Demerara bat a second time, Georgetown resumed on their overnight 74-3 and were bowled out in the final session for 264, setting their opponents a target of 78 off a minimum of 20 overs for victory, which they achieved for the loss of two wickets.
West Demerara lost Kemol Savory and Safraz Esau, for six before Chanderpaul Hemraj and Akshaya Persaud took them home with a third-wicket stand of 48. Chanderpaul Hemraj, who took boundaries off Andre Stoll and Jahon Byron, remained unbeaten on 43, while Persaud smashed Barnwell who opted to bowl spin, for two fours and a six finished not out 20. Gajanand Suknanan claimed 2-19 of five overs.
Earlier, West Demerara lost Byron for 10 before Barnwell and Dexter Solomon saw them to lunch at 123 with Barnwell on 35 all singles and Solomon on 11. The pair frustrated their opponents somewhat after the interval with level-headed batting on a decent pitch. Barnwell inched his way closer to his fifty with nudges and pushes before he drove Romario Shepherd for a boundary and smashed Mahindra Dhanpaul for a six over long-off. He then cut Shepherd for another boundary through point to reach his half century off 193 balls in 143 minutes.
Solomon, who timed the ball well, drove Shepherd and Mahindra Dhanpaul for boundaries before he nicked Shepherd through to wicket-keeper Kemol Savory for 32, leaving the score at 168-5. Ronaldo Alimohamed was then caught off Yetesh Dhanpaul without scoring before Keshram Seyhodan removed Kellon Carmichael for eight.
West Demerara put down a few chances off Barnwell, but undaunted the DCC right-hander increased his scoring rate as he approached his century. He drove Shepherd for four before smashing Richie Looknauth for a six and brought up his century with a single off Looknauth. Devon Lord was then caught at slip off Looknauth for six at 216-8 before Barnwell smashed Looknauth and Seyhodan for sixes. Georgetown then lost Suknanan for one and Stoll without scoring leaving Barnwell unbeaten on 133. He batted for 243 minutes and faced 299 balls, hitting four fours and six sixes. Shepherd claimed 4-56, Seyhodan 3-59 and Looknauth 2-62.
Scores: Georgetown 170 and 264, West Demerara 257 and 81-2.
(Taken from Kaieteur News)