A Thrilla in Jamaica

A nail-biting finish to the first semi-final of the Red Stripe Bowl saw Guyana advance to the final ahead of home side Jamaica, in spite of a tied result. Having won one match more in the preliminary round than Jamaica, Guyana was on safe ground as soon as the scores were levelled.

Guyanese captain Carl Hooper, winning the toss, asked his opposition to bat, hoping to take full toll of a pitch oozing with moisture. Jamaica made an indifferent start, being 75/5 at one stage, before captain Robert Samuels took charge, producing a mature 52 off 62 balls. Gareth Breese's 49-ball 42 further boosted the Jamaican total, helping them to reach 191 for nine in 50 overs.

The total looked sufficient as Guyana trod a similar path to their rivals'; a combination of moist conditions and a new ball saw them teetering at 58/3. Hooper and Ramnaresh Sarwan then collaborated on an invaluable stand of 56 runs.

Both departed in quick succession, forcing Guyana to dig deep into the abilities of its lower order to come up with the remaining runs. With 12 balls remaining, they still needed 18 to win; with an over left, they needed 11. Marlon Samuels, who finished with sloppy figures of 8-0-48-1, and careless Jamaican fielding contrived to gift Guyana the needed runs. Colin Stuart, who made a vital 14, was run out off the last ball with just one run required for an outright victor, leaving both scores exactly level. The rules being clear, the lively Jamaican crowd was silenced off the penultimate ball itself, with the result of the final delivery being purely academic.

Guyana will now face the winner of the other semi-final, between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, which is to be played on Friday. The final is scheduled for Sunday.