Barnwell (99) guides DCC to victory over MSC in ‘Old School’ affair

Christopher Barnwell continued his good form with the bat, making an entertaining 99 as Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) defeated Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by 89 runs at the DCC ground Queenstown in a specially-organized ‘Old School’ limited overs cricket match on Saturday.

The pugnacious Barnwell followed up on his century at the Banks DIH ground last Tuesday night in a Twenty20 series, to smash eight sixes and five fours from 64 balls.

His innings of 99 spurred DCC to 202-5 off 30 overs and Malteenoes, who lost  former national under-19 batsman Shemroy Barrington for a duck in the first over, never recovered and were bowled out for 113 in the final over.

Watched by a vocal crowd in a match that was organised as a part of DCC’s Centenary celebrations, MSC won the toss in sweltering heat and invited DCC to bat on a slow track with lots of preparation moisture.

They lost the left-handed Dexter McKenzie (3) and Ronald Austin (11) who both attempted to turn back the clock before being run out which set the stage for a useful third wicket partnership between Barnwell and former West Indies batsman Keith Semple.

Barnwell, who was dropped at short mid-wicket when on 14 by Steven Jacobs off former national under-19 off-spinner Sean Devers, played an array of scintillating shots and even thumped former Guyana under-19 left-arm spinner Bevon Butts for 27  runs in one over.

After Semple (15) was removed by ex-national fast bowler Jermaine Neblett, Ron Ramnauth joined Barnwell at 49-3 in the 11th over and the pair featured in a century partnership before Barnwell missed a big drive and was bowled by  Orin Ford.

Ramnauth was left unbeaten on 34 after former Guyana youth player Alfred Mentore (20) was bowled by Devers (1-19).  Ford with 2-37 and Neblett (1-23) were the other wicket takers for the Thomas Lands side.

Barrington fell to a brilliant catch by Lyndon Lyght off Andre Legall before MSC had scored while Jacobs (17) was also removed by Legall.

Edward Burnett got into the action by sending back Troy Lewis (15) to leave the Thomas Lands side in a spot of bother.

When  Roderick Lovell got rid of Ford (11) MSC were on the ropes. They never recovered although former West Indies ‘B’ team wicket keeper Kenneth Wong hit former first-class off-spinner Garvin Nedd for two of his three sixes in a cameo 30 that also included two fours.

Nedd accounted for Arron Fraser (1) and former national under-19 batsman Shawn Holder (9) in successive overs to finish with 2- 25 from four overs while Legall had 2-16 from his six overs.

With victory an impossibility for MSC, Demerara under-19 Inter-County captain and wicket-keeper Denver Greaves was asked to bowl the final over and he removed former Guyana under-15 left-arm spinner Dennis Legay (2) along with national under-15 Skipper Kwame Cross (0) as both batsmen gifted their wickets with aggressive shots.

After the game, Mentore, who is also the president of DCC and a vice president of the Georgetown Cricket Assoc-iation, described the match as a big success and said he was pleased to see so many of the players who played at the first division, Inter-county and national level in the 1980s and 1990s participating.

He added that he was also heartened by the size of the crowd which included several Guyana Cricket Board, Demerara Cricket Board and Georgetown Cricket Association officials.

Another ‘Old Schools’ match is being planned for the Banks DIH ground under lights whilst  many spectators who were present at the game, felt that an over 35 inter-association and inter-county series should be introduced to allow Guyana the opportunity to play in regional Masters competitions.