Demerara Pitbulls and Essequibo Jaguars signed off on contrasting victories in the Guyana T10 Blast, which resumed on Monday following a one-day break.
While Pitbulls totally outplayed Berbice Caimans by 45 runs, Jaguars had to dig deep to eke out a one-run success over Berbice Piranhas at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground.
The big-hitting Christopher Barnwell made the Thomas Lands venue look smaller than it already is, blasting seven sixes and four fours in a brutal 72 off 31 for Pitbulls, while Barrington stroked a fine 47 not out to anchor Jaguars innings.
Left-arm spinner Devon Lord etched his name in the books, claiming a helmet-trick (four wickets in four balls) for Caimans.
Essequibo Jaguars defeated Berbice Piranhas by one run
SUMMARY: Essequibo Jaguars 89-5 from 20 overs (Shemroy Barrington 47*, Chandrapaul Hemraj 18; Veerasammy Permaul 2-18, Quentin Sampson 1-8, Suresh Dhanai 1-13, Rajiv Ivan 1-17) vs Berbice Piranhas 88-8 from 20 overs (Rajiv Ivan 36, Sagar Hathiramani 20, Suresh Dhanai 12*, Veerasammy Permaul 12; Carlos La Rose 2-16, Ashmead Nedd 2-16)
In a keenly contest opening match of a double-header, it was Jaguars who ended with maximum points, achieving victory by the slimmest of margins.
Batting first, Jaguars posted 89-5, a total built on a responsible knock from Barrington.
Occupying the crucial number three position, the former Guyana First-Class batsman stroked an unbeaten 47 off 29 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes.
Apart from a 15-ball 18 (3x4s) from opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, Barrington received little support as his side slipped from 44-1 at the start of the sixth over.
Opener Leon Andrews (0), Kemol Savory (7), Dwain Dick (7) and Carlos La Rose (8) were all dismissed cheaply, as left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took 2-18, Quentin Sampson 1-8, Suresh Dhanai 1-13 and Rajiv Ivan 1-17.
In reply, Piranhas slipped to 6-3 with La Rose dismissing Ronaldo Renee without scoring and danger-man Sampson for one, and Joemal La Fleur accounting for Rickey Sargeant (0).
Ivan, who made 36 off 19 (4x4s, 2x6s), and Sagar Hathiramani, who scored 20 off 16 (1×4, 1×6) added 52 for the second wicket, but Jaguars stormed back with wickets at regular intervals to stifle Piranhas’ lower-order.
La Rose and the usually parsimonious left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd both took 2-16.
Demerara Pitbulls defeated Berbice Caimans by 45 runs
SUMMARY: Demerara Pitbulls 131-8 from 10 overs (Christopher Barnwell 72, Damion Vantull 28, Sachin Singh 16; Devon Lord 4-6) vs Berbice Caimans 86-5 from 10 overs (Alex Algoo 30, Steven Sankar 19, Kevlon Anderson 14; Floy Joseph 2-12, Christopher Barnwell 1-8, Kevin Sinclair 1-11, Junior Sinclair 1-30)
Barnwell stamped his name on the T10 Blast with an innings that further solidified his status in the white-ball game.
The big-hitting right-hander pummeled the Caimans bowlers, among them Test spinner Kevin Sinclair, who was flayed for 24 in his lone over.
Barnwell’s 72 off 31 included seven sixes and four fours. He received solid support from Damion Vantull, who made 28 off 15 (5x4s, 1×6), while opener Sachin Singh struck two sixes in 16 off six.
Lord, in the final over of the innings, was struck for a six off the first ball, but rebounded by taking a wicket off each of the last four balls of the innings. Lord’s feat went one better than Raymond Perez, who took a hat-trick for Essequibo Anacondas against Berbice Piranhas.
Despite a blistering start from opener Alex Algoo, who struck four sixes in his 30 off 15, Caimans fell way short at 86-5. Algoo has been in great form this tournament, having made 80 off 27 against Demerara Hawks.
Steven Sankar supported with 19 and Kevlon Anderson made 14, as Floy Joseph took 2-12, Christopher Barnwell 1-8, Kevin Sinclair 1-11 and Junior Sinclair 1-30.
