<p>Though the biggest party in sports – CPL – is expected to highlight Guyana’s sporting landscape this weekend, a hotly anticipated Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) first division two-day semi-final between the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and the University of Guyana (UG) is brewing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;The two teams will battle against each other at DCC from 9:00hrs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;The match will see DCC, a side which hammered arch-rivals Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by an innings and 126 runs in their last group match on the back of centuries from Trevon Griffith and Raymond Perez, being strengthened by the inclusion of a number of their national under–19 players.</p>

<p>&nbsp;According to skipper Christopher Barnwell, the national under – 19 quartet comprising Joshua Persaud, Ashmead Nedd, Qumar Torrington and Sachin Singh will come into the fray to join an already ominous XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;“Yea, I’m very happy to have the four under- 19 players back in my set up, young [Joshua] Persaud is one of our batsmen with a century, and young Sachin Singh has been getting a few starts and he needs to build on one and make a big score. From a bowling point of view [Ashmead] Nedd has been brilliant for us along with [Qumar] Torrington,” Barnwell stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;Though DCC who are the defending champions are clear favourites, Barnwell noted that his side would be leaving nothing to chance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;“It’s a match we are looking forward to playing. We are the defending champ so we have to come and play good cricket so we could defend our title.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;Meanwhile, UG’s skipper, Melroy Stephenson who stroked a half-century last weekend against the Transport Sports Club (TSC) to spur his side into the semis, understands that his team is the clear underdog.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;“Going in as underdogs is a label that we have gotten accustomed to, [but] at the end of the day all the pressure is on DCC to come out on top. It’s not going to be an easy task for us to advance to the finals, but cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, and as a unit, we will be putting our best foot forward.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;Stephenson, however, pointed out that his side’s progression to yet another final is a mark of their growth as a unit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;“Us progressing to our first GCA 1st Division semi-finals is definitely a sign that our cricket is on an upward trend. This, after all, is only the second two days tournament we have taken part in since we were granted 1st Division status.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;“From this vantage point I’m immensely proud of the development the players have shown and moving forward the public can expect great things from The UG Trojans cricket team in future tournaments.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;UG’s sliver of hope will rest on the shoulders of former national youth players Omesh Danram and Linden Austin in addition to Cricket Guyana Inc. franchise player Ershaad Ali. All of whom are handy all-rounders. Much also is expected of Stephenson and Dwayne Dodson.</p>

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<p><strong>Source</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/sports/09/07/dcc-ug-to-square-off-in-gca-semis/">https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/sports/09/07/dcc-ug-to-square-off-in-gca-semis/</a></p>
