Blame it on the Aussie

Courtesy of P&P Insurance and Cummings Electrical Ltd

An Australian-born Jamai-can sent Guyana crashing out of the KFC Cup yesterday.

Left arm Brendon Nash, who took 4-20 from nine overs of steady medium pace bowling restricted Guyana to

159-3 from their 43 overs to which Jamaica replied with

160-3 from 40.1 overs to win by seven wickets in their KFC semi final match at the Three Ws’ Oval, Cave Hill, yesterday and advance to the final.

Choosing to bat first in a game which started one hour late and was reduced to 43 overs-a-side due to a damp spot at the Western End of the ground, or where backward point would be positioned for a left-handed batsman, Guyana were in early trouble when opener Travis Dowlin was bowled by West Indies speedster Jerome Taylor for four to be 20-1 in the sixth over.

A 47-run partnership for the second wicket between Sewnarine Chattergoon (66) and wicket keeper Darwin Christian (14) who attacked the bowling of Taylor and his fellow West Indian fast bowler Darren Powell helped restore some pride to the Guyanese batting before Jamaica’s captain Chris Gayle introduced Nash into the fray.

Nash did not disappoint his captain and after restraining the batsman during his first two overs induced Christian to drive at a delivery that swung into him, crept through the gate and crashed into his stumps.

The wicket seemed to shatter the confidence of the Guyana middle-order batting line-up as, from the seemingly comfortable position of 67-2, they slumped to 87-5.

Nash went to work claiming two other batsmen including the in-form Berbice batsman Assad Fudadin and West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine both without scoring in the same over as he took three wickets in four balls to leave Guyana, who reached 50 from 75 balls precariously placed on 67-4 at the end of 18 overs.

Chattergoon, however, found a useful partner in Leon Johnson and they posted a further 20 for the fifth wicket before Johnson pushed tentatively at a slower delivery from Nash straight to Gayle at cover. He made eight and Guyana were 87-5 in the 28th over.

Chattergoon reached his 50 from 88 balls with three fours before he was caught at deep backward square leg off the bowling of Andrew Richardson. His innings lasted 98 balls and he struck three fours and two massive sixes off Gayle and Powell respectively.

After his demise, Guyana lost wickets rapidly with Royston Crandon (13) his brother Esaun (0) and Mahendra Nagamootoo (0) falling in quick succession to leave the innings in tatters at 134-9.

Some robust batting from the veteran Neil ‘Beast’ Mc Garrell and Zaheer Mohammed who each made 17 helped add some respectability to the total and push the Guyana score past the 150 mark.

Mc Garrell struck Powell for two successive fours in the 41st over of the innings and Mohammed joined the party by hitting the same bowlers’ final delivery out of the ground over the mid wicket region for six. Richardson (1-26), Taylor (1-34) and Powell (1-46) lent good support to Nash.

In reply, Jamaica also found themselves in trouble in the second over of their innings. Gayle, who had struck the previous delivery from off-spinner Royston Crandon who opened the bowling with his brother Esaun over long off for six then was adjudged out caught at the wicket down the leg side off the following delivery. He faced five deliveries in total.

Brendon Parchment was joined by Shawn Findlay and together they began repairing the Jamaican innings belting the ball to all parts of the field with Findlay square driving Royston Crandon for successive boundaries in one over then striking him for six in the next over before Deonarine pulled him out of the attack after three overs.

Mc Garrell replaced Crandon and quickly got success when he removed Parchment (35 off 38 balls with four boundaries) whom he got lbw in his second over as the Guyanese began to tighten the screws on the Jamaicans.

Nash joined Findlay who was batting delightfully. One exuberant cover drive off Nagamootoo sped away to the boundary. He then stroked Mc Garrell through cover point for another four much to the delight of the small Jamaican crowd on hand as the 50 was posted off 9.5 overs. The Guyanese contingent then had something to shout about when Mohammed got Nash to edge a ball, his first of the innings, to Nagamootoo at first slip for 10. He faced 16 balls and struck one four. He Jamaicans saw their 100 posted off 21.5 overs as the Guyanese bowling began to wane under the lights. Findlay also took the opportunity to post his 50 after being given a chance by Christian who failed to hold onto a thin edge off the bowling of Deonarine. He faced 87 balls and struck seven fours. He then brought up his team’s 150 with a sweetly timed extra cover drive off Mc Garrell for four as the Guyanese crowd support gathered at the ground began to make their way slowly out of ground in anticipation of the inevitable end. It came at the end of the 37th over when Hyatt, who made 41 not out from 72 balls with three fours, drove Chattergoon uppishly through the cover region. Jamaica ended on 160-3 with Findlay at the non striker’s end on 64 not out. He struck eight fours from the 113 balls he faced and posted 88 runs for the fourth wicket with Hyatt to guide their team home.

Bowling for Guyana , Royston Crandon (1-20), Mc Garrel (1-29) and Nagamootoo (1-35) were the successful wicket takers. For the second successive match, Nash was adjudged man of the match.