Lyght shines with pugnacious 75 as DCC register 1st round victory

May 13, 2009 Sports

On a firm and easy-paced pitch at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a Pierre, South Trinidad, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) made an auspicious debut in the annual West Indies Player Association (WIPA) 20/20 cricket tournament by beating hosts Merry Boys by 13 runs on Monday night.

The Queenstown club which qualified for the competition by winning the Guyana 20/20 title, beating Lusignan in the Gafoor’s final, will play their next match from 15:30hrs today against Preysal and the DCC camp yesterday expressed confidence of more success in the Twin Island Republic.

Trinidad-based DCC opener Andrew Lyght Jnr smashed 6 fours and 2 sixes in a pugnacious 55-ball 75 and got support from Guest player Leon Johnson (37 from 36 balls) and Skipper Derwin Christian (22 from 22 balls) as DCC made 157-4 off their 20 overs.

Merry Boys were restricted to 147-7 when their 20 overs expired although Guyanese first-class players Royston Crandon (48 from 23 balls with four fours and two sixes) and his elder brother Esuan Crandon (21 from 14 balls) kept the Trinidad club in the fight after Mario Belcon had looked solid in 20 at the top of the order.

Asked to bat before a good size crowd, DCC slipped to 3-1 when Chris Barnwell (2) drilled Richard Kelly to mid-off in the first over.

Man-of-the-Match Lyght (the son of former West Indies ‘B’ team opener the late Andrew Lyght) was joined by Johnson to take the score to 111 before Johnson hit Royston Crandon to point.

Lyght was stumped off spinner Ken Hazel in the 14th over at 140-3 while Christian was caught behind off Kelly at 152-4. Denis Squires (5) and guest player Deon Ferrier (0) were the not out batsmen for DCC as Kelly finished with 2-31 from his 4 overs. Royston Crandon had 0-28 from 4 overs and Esuan 0-29 from 4 overs.

DCC opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Leroy Bristol and off-spinner Kevin George. Bajan Alcindo Holder (1) hit George to Jamal Hinckson at cover in the first over to leave the hosts on 3-1.

Belcon and Royston Crandon took the score to 66 when Belcon was run out and nobody else except Esuan Crandon, who was removed by Barnwell, offered any real resistance as the South Americans never allowed any free runs on the fast outfield.

Trevon Garraway (2-17 from 4), Squires (2-24 from 4), Barnwell (1-33 from 4) and George (1-21 from 4) were the wickets takers for DCC, while Bristol (0-21 from 2) and Ferrier (0-18 from 1) were the other bowlers used.