West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored a battling half century but was unable to take Guyana to victory over Jamaica in their final preliminary round Nagico Super50 clash at the Queen's Park Oval on Saturday night.
Set a competitive 244 for victory after Nkrumah Bonner slammed 122 not out for Jamaica, the Guyanese were well on the way until the dependable left hander fell for 65. Despite little cameos along the way for the rest of the innings, Guyana fell 10 runs short of victory and finishes second in Group A behind the Jamaicans who completed their preliminary round campaign with three wins.
Guyana had the match in their grasp when they were cruising on 96-2, following an opening partnership of 88 runs between Trevon Griffith (37) and Chanderpaul (65).
But the slide began following Chanderpaul's departure and some aggressive bowling from Russell and Cottrell didn't help Guyana's batting.
Assad Fudadin (21) was threatening to turn things in favour of the Guyanese but his attempt at a big hit at Cottrell resulted in a top edge and a comfortable catch to Miller at mid wicket. Thereafter, only Anthony Bramble (14) and Veerasammy Permaul (17 not out) got into double figures.
Guyana reached 233 from 49.5 overs withRussell finished with 3-51 and Cottrell 3-62
Earlier, Bonner scored a well controlled century to lead a great Jamaican fight back.
Tottering at 170 for seven, the right hander forged a hurricane 70-run partnership with Nikita Miller to take his team to 243 for seven off their 50 overs.
Winning the toss and batting, the Jamaicans found the early going tough and was reduced to 45 for three in the midst of great bowling from pacer Ronsford Beaten. The lanky Guyanese bowled an impeccable line and length to trouble the batsmen, on a pitch that was a bit two paced.
Bonner weathered the storm and slowly started to rebuild the innings. He scored his half century off 117 balls and found good company in the form of Andre McCarthy 27. When McCarthy fell the Jamaicans lost three other quick wickets to be reduced to 170 for seven. It was at this point that Bonner changed gears, as the white ball started to fly all over the park.
The last 10 overs of the innings produced 104 runs as he and Miller ran riot.
Bonner brought up his century off 148 balls and ended on 122 not out. His final tally read 157 balls, eight fours and five sixes. Miller's 20 not out came off 13 balls with two fours.
SCOREBOARD
Jamaica vs Guyana
Jamaica inns
Horace Miller c A Bramble b R Beaton 06
John Campbell c A Bramble b C Barnwell 10
Nkrumah Bonner not out 122
Tamar Lambert c A Bramble b A Fudadin 07
Andre McCarthy c L Johnson b V Permaul 27
Carlton Baugh Jr+ c C Barnwell b V Permaul 08
David Bernard Jr* lbw b R Beaton 08
Andre Russell c T Griffith b D Bishoo 14
Nikita Miller not out 20
Extras 3lb, 18w 21
Total for 7 wkts (50ovs) 243
Fall of wkts: 14, 25, 45, 97, 134, 152, 170.
Bowling: C Barnwell 10-0-57-1, R Beaton 8-2-56-2, A Fudadin 6-1-17-1, D Bishoo 10-0-37-1, V Permaul 10-0-45-2, R Crandon 6-0-28-0.
Guyana inns
Trevon Griffith c McCarthy b Russell 37
S Chanderpaul c Campbell b Cottrell 65
Robin Bacchus c Baugh b Russell 06
Leon Johnson lbw b Lambert 16
Christopher Barnwell* b Campbell 11
Assad Fudadin c Miller b Cottrell 21
Royston Crandon run out (Bernard) 13
Anthony Bramble+ b Cottrell 14
Veerasammy Permaul not out 17
Devandra Bishoo b Russell 06
Ronsford Beaton run out (Campbell) 09
Extras: (lb 1, w 15, nb 2) 18
Total (10 wkts; 49.5 overs) 233
Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-96, 3-124, 4-145, 5-152, 6-178, 7-192, 8-201, 9-216, 10-233
Bowling: Jerome Taylor 8-0-27-0 (1w), Sheldon Cottrell 10-1-62-3 (1nb, 8w), David Bernard 5-0-29-0 (1nb, 1w), Nikita Miller 6-1-26-0, Tamar Lambert 10-1-27-1, Andre Russell 9.5-1-51-3 (4w), John Campbell 1-0-10-1 (1w)
Result: Jamaica won by 10 runs
Man of the match: Nkrumah Bonner (Jamaica)