Bernard Jr, who was overlooked for the West Indies’ trip to Australia for a limited-overs series, finished with six wickets for 40 runs from 16.4 overs as Guyana, following on 263 runs behind, were dismissed for 236 in their second innings about five minutes before the lunch interval on the fourth and final day of the third round match at Foursquare Oval.
Fittingly, Bernard Jr formalised the result for the reigning champions, when Veersammy Permaul – batting at nine – essayed an ugly swipe, and was bowled for the second highest score of 42.
The result meant that Jamaica remain the unquestionable leaders with a maximum 36 points following previous victories over Windward Islands in the opening round on home soil at Chedwin Park and Leeward Islands in the second round in St. Kitts at Warner Park.
“I am happy with the way we played over the last few days,” said Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert. “We completely outplayed Guyana.
“The hundreds from Wavell Hinds and Carlton Baugh Jr really set us up well, and our first innings total of 429 over five sessions was the perfect start to the match for us.”
He added: “We talked to a few of the Barbadian players, and they told us that the pitch would be slow and would turn a bit, so it was surprising to see them win the toss and put us in to bat.
“Knowing Guyana through the years, they always pack their sides with spinners, so I thought that they would have batted first, and then bring their players into play over the last few days of the game.”
Guyana will remain on three points and sink to the bottom of the standings, after they were led on first innings in their previous match in the competition in the second round at Antigua’s Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
“I thought our fielding let us down when Jamaica batted, and from there we were always behind in the game,” said Guyana captain Sewnarine Chattergoon.
“Our batting also let us down badly in both innings. It’s not going to get any easier, since Narsingh Deonarine is going to be travelling to Australia with West Indies for the next match, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are still injured.”
He continued: “We have a couple of new players that will join the squad for the next match, and although this may look like adversity, it presents an opportunity for them to make a name for themselves.”
Jamaica’s victory also continued their dominance over the Guyanese in the regional first-class championship this millennium.
The two teams have played each other 15 times over the last decade with Jamaica winning seven times, and Guyana just once. Of the seven drawn matches during that period, the Jamaicans have gained a first innings lead in five of them, and the 2005 second-leg contest ended in a no-decision.
Jamaica found token resistance from the lower-half of the Guyana batting, after their opponents resumed from an overnight total of 161 for four.
Nikita Miller gave Jamaica an early breakthrough, when he had left-hander Narsingh Deonarine caught at short mid-wicket for 13 in the second over of the morning.
The Jamaicans were slowed down, when Derwin Christian joined Royston Crandon, and they defied their opponents’ attack for a little over half-hour.
But Bernard stepped in to snare the wickets of Christian – bowled for nine – and Esuan Crandon, Royston’s elder brother, adjudged lbw for a first-ball duck, off successive balls.
Miller then scalped the younger Crandon caught at slip for four to leave Guyana 178 and for eight.
Jamaica’s demolition job could have been swifter had Miller held a high catch, when Veerasammy Permaul, on six, drove Bernard over his head at cover in the final over before the morning’s drinks break.
Jamaica’s romp to victory met another obstacle however, when Davendra Bishoo joined Permaul, and frustrated their opponents for the next hour-and-a-quarter to add an entertaining 58 for the ninth wicket.
Odean Brown made the breakthrough, when he had Bishoo caught at deep mid-on for 18 before Bernard put the bow on Jamaica’s victory.
The Jamaicans have drawn a bye in the next round, starting on Friday, and will take a well-earned break.
Guyana will look to rebound from this setback, when they face the Combined Campuses & Colleges at Three Ws Oval.
Scoreboard
JAMAICA 1st Innings 429
(W. Hinds 151, C. Baugh 124; V. Permaul 5-91)
GUYANA 1st Innings 166
(N. Miller 6-42)
GUYANA 2nd Innings (following-on)
(overnight 161 for four)
*S. Chattergoon c Pagon b Bernard 3
R. Chandrika run out (Bernard) 36
T. Dowlin lbw b Bernard 41
A. Fudadin b Bernard 54
N. Deonarine c *Lambert b Miller 13
R. Crandon c *Lambert b Miller 4
+D. Christian b Bernard 9
E. Crandon lbw b Bernard 0
V. Permaul b Bernard 42
D. Bishoo c Bernard b Brown 18
B. Bess not out 0
Extras (b5, lb1, nb10) 16
TOTAL (all out, 86.4 overs) 236
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-56, 3-140, 4-146, 5-161, 6-173, 7-173, 8-178, 9-236
Bowling: Powell 17-2-59-0; Bernard 16.4-5-40-6 (nb8); Miller 24-6-50-2 (nb1); Brown 22-6-62-1 (nb1); *Lambert 7-2-19-0
Result: Jamaica won by an innings and 27 runs
Points: Jamaica 12, Guyana zero
Umpires: P. Grazette, D. Holder
Man-of-the-Match: Wavell Hinds (Jamaica)
