– Jamaica put one hand on title after crushing Guyana

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Three-day champions Jamaica produced another clinical performance to hand Guyana a heavy defeat yesterday and move to within one match of winning the TCL Group West Indies One-Day Trophy Under-19 title.

Playing at Melbourne in the fourth round of the tournament, Jamaica batted and bowled superbly to crush the Guyanese by 206 runs, and maintain their unbeaten streak.

Led by a blistering 115-run, seventh-wicket stand between wicketkeeper Kemar Marshall (70) and Akeem Dewar (63 not out), Jamaica piled up 305 for nine off their allotted 50 overs, the first total beyond 300 in the competition.

Guyana were then bundled out for 99 in 23 overs as off-spinner Jermaine Blackwood grabbed five for 30 and pacer Jermaine Cole snared three for 29. Leg-spinner Dewar chipped in with two for 11.

Only Jeetendra Sookdeo offered fight with 43 from 50 balls with six fours and a six.

Jamaica face Barbados in the final round of the tournament on Wednesday, knowing that only a heavy loss can deny them the title and from completing the precious double.

Sixteen-year-old Ramon Senior laid the foundation for Jamaica’s fireworks later on, when he stroked a solid 63 from 88 balls with seven fours and a six, after the hosts found themselves on 56 for three.

Jamaica lost their way, however, slipping to 170 for six and needed Marshall and Dewar to bail them out of the mire.

Marshall clobbered 10 fours and a six off just 38 balls while Dewar slammed eight fours from a mere 37 balls, to add an astonishing 115 in nine overs.

Amidst the carnage, fast bowler Seon Daniels was Guyana’s best bowler with four for 61.

Guyana started their reply well and were 78 for three at one stage before suffering a dramatic collapse which saw seven wickets tumble for 21 runs.