Sarwan (104*), Johnson (61) spur GCC to victory

Former national under-15 batsman and newly elected Demerara senior player Ravi Sarwan celebrated his selection to the Demerara Inter-County side with a fluent, unbeaten century whilst West Indies ODI left-hander Leon Johnson, scored a half century as Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) beat the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by 155 runs at Bourda yesterday in the opening round of the Georgetown Cricket Association /Pepsi-sponsored first division 40-overs-a-side competition.

The 23-year-old Sarwan’s undefeated 104 took 91-balls and was decorated with nine fours.
Together with the 21-year-old Johnson, who will lead the Demerara team in the Inter County Limited overs competition, he added 150 runs for the third wicket with Johnson hitting three fours and a six in his 78-ball 61.
Another former Guyana under-19 left-hander Vishal Singh hit a cameo 36 from 13 balls that was decorated with five fours and a six as GCC rattled up 276-6 off their allotted 40 overs.

Paul Castello, who removed former Guyana first-class player Azeemul Haniff (1) and Johnson, took 2-44 from four overs for GDF who reached 121-9 when their overs expired on the fast outfield with former first class medium pacer Roderick Lovell hitting an unbeaten 57 with three fours and a six.

No other batsman offered support for the `Army’ team against the bowling of former national youth fast bowler Trevor Henry (3-18), Johnson (2-10) and Gavin Singh (2-18).

In other matches, Guyana/Stanford 20/20 player Chris Barnwell continued his rich vein of form with a robust 38-ball 55 (7x4s; 2x6s) as Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) crushed Police by 124 runs.
He received support from national wicketkeeper/batsman Darwin Christian, who shrugged off being overlooked by the Demerara selectors to score 25 while former Guyana under-19 right-hander Deonauth Baksh contributed 24 as DCC were dismissed for 203 in 35.2 overs.

Off-spinner Nigel Denny grabbed 5-35 on debut while Vishal Jaigobin supported with 2-35 for the Lawmen who catapulted to 79 all out in 20.4 overs. Only Rawle Browne (27) and Jaigobin (13) reached double figures against the bowling of Barnwell, off-spinner Denis Squires and leg-spinner Kester Harcourt who took two wickets each.

At Everest Cricket Club, Camp Road, Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), led by a useful all-round performance from Mark Montfort defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC) by 38 runs.

Montfort struck six fours in his innings of 59 and got support from Demerara under-17 opener Quincy Ovid-Richardson, who continued his recent good form with 47 while Shawn De Souza scored 46 against the bowling of off-spinner Kevin Ross who took 3-34.

Kellon Carmichael, a former national under-19 all-rounder, also celebrated his maiden senior Demerara call-up with 2-43 while leg-spinner Travis Blyden had 2-33 for TSC, who were then dismissed for 162 in 36.4 overs in their turn at the crease, despite a fighting 46 from Carmichael and 32 (3x6s) from former national 20/20 wicket-keeper Tyrell Tull.

Montfort returned with the ball to claim 3-32 while 51-year-old former Test off-spinner and West Indies selector Clyde Butts, who along with his son and fellow off-spinner Collis Butts and Garfield Newton supported with two wickets each.

Action in the tournament will continue today, with Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) and Everest clashing in the other first round game at Everest.