Led by resilient half centuries from Leon Johnson (58) and Narsingh Deonarine (51 not out), Guyana   avoided a fifth successive defeat when they held leaders Jamaica to a tame draw in their sixth round match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

Needing to score 272 to pull off a come-from-behind victory after Jamaica declared their second innings closed on 132-8, Guyana reached 159-4 at the close, with seven of the mandatory 15 overs still to be bowled.

Scores in the game: Jamaica 441-8 declared and 132-8 declared; Guyana 302 and 159-4.

Guyana lost an early wicket in their second innings as Royston Crandon was lbw to David Bernard jnr.’s first ball of the second over.

But Shemroy Barrington who scored 31 with three fours and Johnson added 68 runs for the second wicket, before the former was also lbw two balls before tea.

At the interval Guyana were 70-2.

The 21-year-old Johnson duly recorded his fifth half century and second of the season after being dropped by Tamar Lambert at first slip.

The ball went to the third man boundary for Johnson’s eighth four. He faced 99 balls and batted for 113 minutes as Guyana moved to 101-2.

Deonarine, who had joined Johnson at the fall of Barrington’s wicket, got into his stride with some wonderful drives on either side of the wicket, including a drive through extra cover off off-spinner Odean Browne, as he raced to 31.

But Browne returned to remove Johnson as Lambert made amends at first slip.

Johnson’s patient 58 came off 127 deliveries and was decorated with eight fours.

As the match meandered to a draw, Deonarine took the opportunity to get some batting practice for Guyana’s next encounter against Trinidad and Tobago at the same venue this weekend.

The Jamaicans reaped success in the following over, the first of the final 15 for the day, when Pooran (03) was caught at silly mid-off by Pagon off Miller.

But first innings century maker Darwin Christian joined Deonarine who duly posted his third half century of the season.

He faced 77 balls and struck seven fours whilst batting for 98 minutes, after which both captains decided to call it a day at 5:11pm with Deonarine on 51 and Christian, who had pulled Miller through midwicket for four in the previous over, on 11.

Guyana were comfortably placed on 159-4 at the close with seven of the mandatory 15 overs still to be bowled.

Bernard (1-6), Miller (1-37), Wallace (1-38) and Browne 1-55 were the successful bowlers for Jamaica who with the six points gained from first innings win, moved to 48.

Guyana are still occupying the cellar position with seven points.

Earlier, Guyana resumed on their overnight 301-9, with Travis Dowlin on 71 and Brendon Bess on two but, after adding one run to his total, Dowlin lost his off stump to Andrew Richardson’s third delivery of the second over of the day.

Richardson ended with 3-48 to join Nikita Miller who grabbed 3-64 and Browne 2-53 the previous day.

With a lead of 139 runs, the Jamaicans hunted quick runs and lost wickets at regular intervals eventually closing the innings at 132-8.

Match referee Omar Bacchus declared Bernard as the Man–of–the Match.