Guyana advanced to yesterday’s final of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Twenty20 Festival despite losing to Barbados in their controversial match Friday night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Dwayne Smith is brilliantly bowled by Esaun Crandon at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. (Orlando Charles photo)

The controversy involved match referee Grantley Culbard, who apparently  without notifying the official scorers, penalized Guyana for slow over rates by deducting two overs.

The first involved a long delay when the ball was lost in the covers and the second occurred when a Guyanese player was treated for an injury on the field.

As a result, 12 runs were added to Barbados’ total which took them to 158-8 after they were 146-8 in 19.5 overs chasing 152 for victory.

Subsequently, tempers flared and Guyana benefited from the largesse of the Barbadians to set up the final with Jamaica who beat the United Chargers of the USA.

Earlier Guyana won the toss and batted scoring 151-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Travis Dowlin, opening the batting, top scored with 38 from 41 balls, including four boundaries.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was the next highest scorer with 20 runs that included one four and a six while Derwin Christian and Esaun Crandon provided some resistance down the order with 15 (1×4, 1×6) and 13 respectively.

Sulieman Benn (2-35) and Dwayne Smith (2-14) were the chief strikers while Khalid Springer and Kevin Stoute had one wicket apiece.

When Barbados batted Alcindo Holder scored a battling 69 from 30 balls that included six massive boundaries and three fours before he was run out by Dowlin attempting a suicidal second run.

Carlo Morris provided some support down the order with 29 from 26 balls which also included a boundary and a maximum.

Christopher Barnwell bowled a miserly spell for his two wickets which yielded only 13 runs while the Crandon brothers Esaun (2-13) and Royston (2-30) supported well.

Mahendra Nagamootoo picked up a solitary wicket.