By Charwayne Walker
The first Barbados-born player that represented the land of the majestic Kaieteur Falls was Cyril Rutherford `Snuffy’ Browne.
Just like Raymon Reifer, Browne came from a cricket family. He was one of four brothers that played first-class cricket, the others were Alfred, Clement and Chester Browne.
Playing against his native Barbados with his brother Clement in the Barbados XI, Cyril Browne led British Guiana to an eighth-wicket win over Barbados at Bourda in October, 1925.
C.R. Browne took 5 for 77 from 39 overs in Barbados first innings of 230 all out. He then top scored with 102 in British Guiana’s first innings of 374 all out.
When Barbados batted again he captured 8 for 58 giving him match figures of 13 for 135.
According to cricket historian Dr. Winston Mc Gowan, “Cyril Browne was a bowling all-rounder a hard-hitting aggressive right-handed lower-order batsman and a medium-pace leg break – googly bowler. He bowled his leg spin so quickly that he was frequently required to open the bowling, a rarity for a spin bowler in first-class cricket,” Mc Gowan wrote.
Although Reifer’s performance against Trinidad and Tobago at Providence in 2018 is not as distinguished, he joined a select group of players representing Guyana to score a century and capture a five-wicket haul in the same match at the Regional First Class Level.
Below is the distinguished list
Cyril Rutherford Browne 102 and 13 for 135 – British Guiana vs. Barbados at Bourda, October, 1925.
Roger Andrew Harper 120 and 10 for 122 – Guyana vs Barbados, Kensington Oval 1987 6 for 63 and 4 for 59.
Roger Andrew Harper 5 for 98 and 202 – Guyana vs Windward Islands 1995
Roger Andrew Harper 124 and 5-38 – Guyana vs Jamaica, Sabina Park, 1996.
Carl Hooper 5-52 and 101 – Guyana vs Barbados, GCC, Bourda, 1997.
Raymon Reifer 5 for 77 and 108 not out – Guyana vs T/dad, Providence, 2018.
