ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Jamaica continued their dominant march towards an unprecedented fifth straight Regional 4Day title when they trounced Guyana by eight wickets late on the final day of their fourth round day/night contest on Monday.
Declaring at the start of the day at their overnight 454 for nine, Jamaica’s bowlers dismantled Guyana’s second innings for a disappointing 187.
Set a measly 28 for victory, Jamaica lost Danza Hyatt to the first ball of the innings and also saw Donovan Pagon depart for seven, before reaching their target to collect full points and storm to 48 points at the top of the standings.
They are now 20 points clear of second placed Trinidad and Tobago who they meet in the next round, following a break in the competition this weekend.
Jamaica made their intentions clear with their prompt declaration and were rewarded when they made early inroads into the Guyanese batting.
Seamer David Bernard did the early damage to finish with three for 32 while left-armer Sheldon Cotterell undermined the lower order to claim three for 42. Left-arm seamer Nikita Miller supported with two for 25.
Only the in-form Assad Fudadin, who top scored with 47, and Leon Johnson who got 37, showed any resistance.
Fudadin, who scored a century in the last game against Windward Islands, faced 115 balls in 132 minutes at the crease and struck three fours.
Opener Trevon Griffith was carelessly run out for 12 with the score on 23 and his partner Derwin Christian, dropped at slip earlier by Brenton Parchment, lost concentration after the first drinks break and hit a return catch to Miller at 46 for two.
Johnson and Narsingh Deonarine (21) seemed to be steering Guyana towards safety when they put on 41 for the third wicket.
But just after lunch, Deonarine flirted with one from Bernard to give wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh a simple catch and when Johnson pulled Bernard to Danza Hyatt at mid-wicket, Guyana were beginning to struggle.
Bernard struck again to trap Chris Barnwell lbw for seven at 127 for five before Royston Crandon fell to Miller at 136 for six.
Fudadin and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who finished unbeaten on 14, made a last stand adding 34 for the seventh wicket but once they were separated, Guyana knew their last hope of saving the match had also disappeared.
