– Opener responds to dropping by selectors
By Marlon Munroe
Overlooked by the national selectors in the Guyana team for the opening round of matches next season, opener Christopher Barnwell sent a reminder to the selectors that he was still around with a scintillating century on a rain-affected second day of the three-day cricket trial match at the Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary yesterday.
Barnwell’s unbeaten 105 helped the Rest Team reach 216-1 from 49 overs at the close of the second day’s play yesterday.
The all-rounder teamed up with another national discarded in Krishna Arjune to post a 171-run first wicket stand as the rest Team made a stirring reply to the National Team’s 306 all out from 90.4 overs.
With Barnwell is Shemroy Barrington who is undefeated on 29.
Arjune, coming off a stroke filled 182 last weekend, had earlier made 66 that consisted of four boundaries and a six from 124 balls. Barnwell, who was not selected in the national 13-man team, faced 176 balls, sending 10 of them to the boundary and three of them over.
Barnwell was circumspect and batted as if to remind selectors of his talent.
The normally aggressive right handed batsman was calm and assured and continued from where he left off at 13:15 hours after rain halted play at 10:50 hours.
Arjune too was scoring at his characteristically cool pace, stroking only four boundaries and a six in his half century knock. However, one moment of indiscretion accounted for his wicket when he swept a delivery from right arm off-spinner Veerasammy Permaul and was caught behind by Anthony Bramble late in the afternoon.
Barrington, who has been on the low side of the runs’ sheet, played a classy innings and looked as if he was returning to some semblance of the form which saw him representing Guyana this year.
He scored frequently off fast bowler Brandon Bess steering him down to third man on occasions whenever the bowler was guilty of bowling too short. He hit two boundaries and six during his innings.
Earlier yesterday morning, the Guyana XI, resuming on their overnight score of 287-8 were bundled out within the first session. Esaun Crandon, restarting the day on 43, added only one run while Bess made nine runs with two fours.
Trevor Benn was left undefeated on 13 from 62 balls.
Off-spinner Stephen Latcha, Totaram Bishun and Trevon Garraway were the main bowlers with 2-40 (19), 2-91 (23) and 2-70 (18) respectively.
