NORTH SOUND – Derwin Christian’s cameo 13-ball unbeaten 40 hauled Guyana from the brink of defeat and propelled them to a stunning two-wicket win over Combined Campuses and Colleges in the Caribbean Twenty20 Championship last Friday night.
Guyana found themselves behind for the better part of the contest after a lacklustre bowling effort allowed the CCC to pile up an impressive 175 for seven off 20 overs, and an equally docile batting display left them in strife at 119 for seven in the 16th over.
Christian then clubbed two fours and four sixes in an exhilarating innings to fire Guyana to an improbable win at 178 for eight with two balls left, and to the top of Group ‘A’ with eight points.
CCC seemed favourites with Guyana requiring 15 off the last over but the defending champions managed seven from the first two balls before Christian smashed ten from the last two deliveries in a dramatic finish at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
The result would have been a tough one to take for CCC after captain Romel Currency and William Perkins both stroked 43 to post a challenging total, with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-34) and off-spinner Royston Crandon (2-22) among the wickets.
And their dominance continued when Travis Dowlin (4) top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton off pacer Gilford Moore (2-20) with Guyana 17 for one in the third over.
Veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul stroked three fours in scoring 19 from 15 balls, steadying the innings in a lively 26-run stand with Esaun Crandon whose 21 came from 12 balls and included two four sand a six.
Both fell in quick succession, however, with Chanderpaul run out at the end of the fifth over attempting a sharp single to short fine leg and Crandon followed eight balls afterward, holing out to deep square-leg, to leave Guyana perched on 53 for three.
Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (17) and Royston Crandon (9) attempted a repair job by adding 20 for the fourth wicket but again, Guyana lost them both quickly to slump.
Sarwan hit one four and a six over mid-wicket off off-spinner Ryan Wiggins but chopped the very next ball to Kavesh Kantasingh at short third man and five balls later, Crandon also succumbed to leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner (3-24) as Guyana tumbled to 77 for five in the 10th over.
Jonathan Foo (23) and Steven Jacobs (18) posted a sensible 42 from 33 balls for the sixth wicket, but not for the first time both batsmen fell three balls apart with the score at 119 in the 16th over.
Christian announced himself at the crease with a six over long-on, laying the foundation for a rescue mission in a 42-run partnership off 20 balls with Chris Barnwell who hit a ten-ball 16.
When Walton held Barnwell’s skier off Moore at the end of the 19th, however, Guyana needed a big effort and promptly got it from Christian.
Bishoo got a single off the first ball from seamer Kevin McClean and Christian got two to square leg off the next delivery and four overthrows helped them lower the deficit.
With eight needed from four balls, Christian ended the game emphatically when he top-edged for four and then belted the fourth delivery over square for six. (CMC)
