Nedd pleased with DCC team’s performance in T/dad

By Royston Alkins

The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) team which participated in the recent University of the West Indies UNICOM T20 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago should hold its head high after a number of impressive performances.

The Queenstown team reach the final of the tournament before losing to a star studded Cane Farm team which boasted Trinidad national T20 players such as Evin Lewis, Rayad Emrit, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, former West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin and Imran Khan.

Garvin Nedd

Coach of the team Garvin `Tibbsy’ Nedd in an invited comment, said:” I was pleased with the team’s success and would have liked to have the services of Christopher Barnwell and Paul Wintz for the tournament.

“The GCB should have given the guys (Barnwell and Wintz) the opportunity to play, the Trinidad Cricket board did so I don’t see the reason why we didn’t,” the former national off-spinner added.

Nedd also spoke of the talent of a number of the local players such as Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemol Savoury and Ashmead Nedd.

“I’m highly impressed by what I’ve seen. Young Keemo Paul was our death bowler and hit his mark consistently good as anyone I’ve seen.”

On Rutherford, he said: “For his age, it’s impressive how hard he strikes the ball and pace at which he bowled at.”

Nedd said his role as coach was to allow the players to apply their craft adding that he also encouraged them to believe in themselves.

Keemo Paul

The team, though not at full strength nevertheless reach the final where they were beaten by 67 runs at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground, St Augustine, Trinidad.

They lost in the final despite a strong performances from former national batsman Gajanand Singh. The classy left-hander stroked five consecutive half centuries in Twin-Island Republic including one in the final against Cane Farm.

Batting first, Cane Farm, laden with a number of players with international experience, piled up a formidable 217-7 from their allotted 20 overs.

West Indies opener Lewis was the top scorer, with a swashbuckling knock of 90 from 35 deliveries. His innings included five fours and 10 sixes.

Roshan Primus supported Lewis with an 18-ball 43 to see his side to the formidable total.

Rutherford, who bowled with good aggression, took 3-32 while Kellon Carmichael captured 1-10.

Gajanand Singh

DCC, in reply, managed 150-6 from their allotted 20 overs on the back of another half century from Singh.

Primus captured 4-39 to crown an impressive all-round showing and was named Man-of-the-Match.

DCC received the runners-up prize of TT$20,000 while Cane Farm won TT$40,000.

Singh was voted the Man-of-the-Series for his tally of 327 runs, the most in the competition.

The classy left-hander, in n invited comment said that he was feeling great about his chances of getting back into the national side even though he didn’t achieve that target this season.

“I’m feeling great, I’ve been working hard on my game and when you achieve success, it’s hard to express the feeling,” said an emotional Singh adding…“I’m grateful.”

Sherfane Rutherford

He said he has plans to ply his trade in England and Trinidad in order to improve his game.

“CPL is coming around and I would love to have a crack, I just want to play cricket, even if it for Leeward or windward, I just want to play.”

Paul, who will be representing the West Indies- U19S in the upcoming West Indies cricket board regional super50, was adjudged the best young player of the competition.  The 18 year old Paul, who was member of the winning West Indies U19 team that made history by winning the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.