Travis Dowlin’s XI defeated Krishna Arjune’s XI by 36 runs to win the second trial match organized by the senior selection panel of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB).
The match is being used as a yard stick to select the Demerara team that will contest the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) El Dorado Inter- county limited overs competition.
Taking first strike on a low Everest Cricket Club wicket, Dowlin’s XI reached 203-9 at the end of their 50 overs with former national under-19 opener Shemroy Barrington leading the way with 47.
Arjune’s XI, in reply, reached 167-8 at their cut off time with Ravi Sarwan scoring 47.
Earlier, Christopher Barnwell exploited the preparation moisture that was in the wicket as he tested the batsmen with a few short pitched deliveries, but after that, it was smooth sailing all along especially for Barrington who survived some anxious moments against the slower bowlers.
After seeing former national under-19 opener Rajindra Chandrika (14) being run out by Kellon Carmichael, Barrington, in partnership with another former under-19 player Krishna Deosarran, added a valuable 83 runs from 19 overs for the second wicket.
But when well set for a big total, Barrington, who was mis-stumped twice by wicketkeeper Rawle Browne off the bowling of Travis Blyden, was not given another opportunity when he was drawn out of his crease by former national under-19 captain and West Indies vice captain Steven Jacobs, which saw Browne completing the task this time around with the score reading 103-2 in the 23rd over.
Dowlin’s XI then lost four wickets for 30 runs including those of Deosarran (14), his cousin Surujpaul Deosarran, Dion Ferrier and Harrinarine Hera who all fell cheaply to be precariously placed on 133-6 in the 33rd over.
But Orin Forde (34) and Avenash Sookdeo (23) added 36 runs for the seventh wicket which help add some respectability to the total, with Sookdeo hitting left arm spinner Emran Khan over long off for six.
Shaheed Gittens who also struck left arm orthodox bowler Clinton Collins over long on for six, weighed in with an unbeaten 15 at the end. Once again, Jacobs had the upper hand on the batsmen, finishing with 2-9 whilst Steven Alves (2-15) and Blyden with 2-16 offered support.
Arjune’s XI reply got off to a disastrous start as they lost Blyden who was run out without facing a ball with only two runs on the board.
And when Chandrika took a catch at extra cover to send back Arjune, followed by Dowlin’s superb effort at first slip that accounted for Jacobs, Arjune’s XI were 28-3.
Barnwell, who struck Surujpaul Deosarran over long off for six and Jacobs, had earlier added 28 runs for the third wicket. But Dowlin was in the spotlight again when he held two magnificent catches at midwicket off the bowling of Gittens that accounted for his Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) teammates Barnwell (24) and Jamal Hinckson to leave their side shakily placed on 64-5.
It could have been worse had Quason Nedd held onto the chance offered by Sarwan before he had scored off Gittens at long off. The batsman retaliated by hitting Surujpaul Deosarran over mid on for four.
Sarwan and Sauid Drepaul added 27 for the sixth wicket, with the latter hitting Gittens through backward point for four. Sarwan received another life, when Barrington grassed a skier off the bowling of the hapless Gittens when he was on seven and his team 68-5 in the 21st over.
Sarwan was then adjudged lbw for his top score of 47 and as time drew near for the home team to conduct their practice session, those in charge called the batsmen namely Kellon Carmichael and Maxwell Fraser who were unbeaten on 16 and 11 respectively off the field.
Gittens ended with 2-31 whilst Nedd who had the wicket of Jacobs, ended with 1-12 and Deosarran 1-26.
The selectors met after the match to select the team, but no announcement was made. According to Rabindranauth Seeram a former West Indies `B’ team and national middle order batsman, the team will have to be ratified by the executives of the DCB before any publication can be made.
However, no word was given whether there will be another trial match, taken into consideration that the competition has been pushed back by the GCB until September 27, and with West Indies players in the calibre of Leon Johnson, vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan along with former under-19 players batsman Vishal Singh and fast bowler Jeremiah Harris set to return from overseas duties, it would be a good idea to have another match.
