Chattergoon (119) belts Bajans

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn turned from hero to villain for the Barbadians as he conceded 16 runs from the 49th over as the hosts just sneaked home with a win on the Duckworth/Lewis system.

The 33-year-old Neil McGarrell hit a straight six just before umpires Norman Malcolm and Billy Doctrove halted the match in poor light. Guyana, chasing Barbados’ total of 249 for eight off 50 overs, ended 247 for seven off 49 overs, needing 240 to tie on the Duckworth/Lewis system. The 24-year-old Chattergoon smacked 14 boundaries off 140 balls in a classy knock that inspired the Guyanese to their ninth title. He and Krishna Arjune (34) laid the foundations with an opening stand of 92 in 20.5 overs.

Despite the cheap loss of West Indies captain and vice-captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, at 119 for three, Guyana stayed in control. Sarwan, with three centuries in the competition, and Chanderpaul both fell to their West Indies teammate Corey Collymore. Sarwan drove to cover while Chanderpaul got a questionable edge to wicket-keeper Courtney Browne.

Chattergoon and fellow left-hander Narsingh Deonarine forged a fourth partnership of 90 in 14.5 overs. Guyana were coasting at 209 for three in the 40th over when Benn brought Barbados back. The tall spinner removed Deonarine, who cut to short third man, Lennox Cush and Assad Fudadin as Guyana lost their way to be 225 for seven off 45.2 overs. Chattergoon eventually dragged a square cut off Fidel Edwards onto his stumps. Those interventions left the large home crowd of 10,000 muted as darkness closed in on Bourda. Wicket-keeper Derwin Christian struggled to get the ball away as Benn, who took three for 36, and Edwards finally gave Barbados the edge. But McGarrell sent the fans into raptures with a big penultimate over off the distraught Benn.

Earlier, Barbados, batting first for the seventh straight time in the tournament, was given a solid century start by openers Martin Nurse and Kurt Wilkinson.

They passed 50 in the 12th over before the introduction of the off-spin of Cush and Deonarine slowed their advance. Deonarine claimed Nurse for a topscore of 63. The bulky left-hander hit six fours and two sixes off 84 balls. Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo removed danger man Dwayne Smith and Wilkinson as the Bajans slipped to 135 for three. Floyd Reifer (34), Ryan Hinds (41) and Alcindo Holder (25) rallied the middle order as Barbados posted a competitive total. McGarrell, later a Guyana hero, took three for 58 with his left-arm spin.

The equally experienced Nagamootoo took three for 52.