Sarwan smashes 106 against Bajans

Chasing 244 for victory in the allotted 50 overs, Guyana were 206 for six off 44 overs when fading light ended play at 5.30 pm at the North Stars ground. At that stage the Guyana target score was 204.

"Man-of-the-Match" Sarwan took advantage of a dropped catch on 57 to score 106 not out off 117 balls with 11 fours and three sixes in a splendid display after Guyana were in early trouble at 33 for three in the tenth over.

He added 95 in 20.2 overs for the fourth wicket with captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who survived a chance before he had scored to contribute 23. The wickets of Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine in successive overs left the match in the balance with the score 129 for five in the 31st over but Sarwan and wicket-keeper Darwin Christian, who made 35 from 57 balls after surviving a chance on 15, put Guyana back on course with a partnership of 67 in 12.2 overs.

Nine runs came off the 44th over from pacer Fidel Edwards with Neil McGarrell edging the final ball to the third man boundary.

Earlier, Barbados were bowled out for 243 in 49.3 overs. The innings was built around a solid 75 off 107 balls from Kurt Wilkinson after they passed 100 with only two wickets down by the 20th over.

Wilkinson, who batted at No 3, hit ten boundaries before he was seventh out with the score 215 in the 45th over.

Left-hander Martin Nurse and Dale Richards added 50 for the first wicket in just 8.1 overs before Nurse fell to fast bowler Reon King for 22 which contained five boundaries.

Richards and his Carlton clubmate Wilkinson sustained the tempo by putting together 44 off 9.3 overs. The partnership was ended by a run out of Richards for 42 which came off 78 balls and included five fours and a six.

Veteran Floyd Reifer, returning to the national side for the first time in a year after a knee injury sustained in last year’s semi-finals of the same tournament, scored just seven before edging off-spinner Lennox Cush to the ‘keeper in the 26th over.

Dwayne Smith succumbed in the next over, leg before wicket to leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo for one.