Former West Indies test player Neil McGarell warmed up for the Guyana, England limited overs game at Everest tomorrow with a solid half century on Sunday at the Malteenoes ground in a 40 overs practice match which involved several present and former national players.
The left-arm spinner who bats right handed hit four fours in a six in his unbeaten 56 as he spearheaded a Rest team, captained by national all-rounder Lennox Cush, to a massive 124 run win over Malteenoes.
Batting first on a track with some bounce, the Rest side pilled up 289-8 off their allotted 40 overs as GYO's Anthony Ifill (48), Arun Frazer (37), DCC's fast bowler Trevon Garraway (36) and sacked Guyana pacer Reon Griffith (21) all supported with the bat.
Malteenoes captain and former Guyana under-19 all-rounder Orin Ford was the most successful bowler for the home picking up 3-48 from six overs.
Teenager Shemroy Barrinton (1) and the attacking Cush (2), brought back from playing club cricket in Trinidad for tomorrow's game were the only batsmen not to get a start.
The home team bowling attack, which included ex-Guyana pacer Jerimiah Harris who has resumed his career after a back injury forced him out of action for just under a year and first class leg-spinner Shawn Thompson, were punished on the small ground.
When Malteenoes began their reply they were never allowed to score freely until in the last few overs of their innings when former Guyana player Neil Barry (32) and Troy Lewis (20) took the attack to the bowlers. But by then it was much too late for the home team who ended on 165-7 when their overs expired.
Ford, who struggled to get the spinners away, also batted well for 21 before he was stumped off McGarell.
Griffith, surprisingly left out of the Guyana team for tomorrow's game, opened the bowling with Garraway who is set to make his national senior team debut tomorrow and bowled impressively.
The tall GNIC pacer had his action video taped during the match by Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board's Video analysis Robin Singh who told this newspaper that Griffith's action, which seemed suspect during the Carib Beer Series, was now 'clean'.
McGarell finished with 2-17 from his eight overs for the Rest team while former national under-19 off-spinner Sean Devers was the most successful bowler with 3-8 from six overs.