Jamaica pluck United Chargers by 77 runs
By Rawle Toney
Jamaica stormed into the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) 20/20 Cricket Festival by stomping the United Chargers of the USA by 77 runs yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Pro-vidence.
Batting first at the world class facility, the reggae boys reached 201-5 from their allotted 20 overs and were given an additional six runs, thanks to a slow over rate penalty which was imposed on the US team.
In replied, the US based team could have only mustered 130-5
West Indies Captain Chris Gayle opened the batting for the victors and lived up to all expectations when he tore into the bowling of the US side with some thunderous hits.
Gayle’s innings was shaping up to be one that be hunting for the United Chargers but he was trapped off the bowling of Guyana’s leg spinner Devendra Bishoo just one shy of his half century (49) off 29 balls, which was decorated with five fours and two sixes.
But just when the United Chargers thought that they had the Jamaicans big hitter, former West Indies opener Wavell Hinds slaughtered the bowling of Reon King, Lennox Cush and Bishoo.
The hard hitting Jamaican Hinds made a stylish yet battering 51 from 21 balls but was stumped by Cush which saw the exciting Xavier Marshall coming to the crease but however could not have joined the slug fest since he was well contained through some tight bowling from King before he was a vitictim to Bishoo’s spin for 23 off of 31 balls.
But it was the man-of-the-match performance from David Bernard jnr which set up the massive total for the Jamaicans.
Bernard was in fine form and played the ball well all over and since the Providence stadium has a fast outfield, he capitalized well and ended the innings with a fashionable unbeaten 45 from 28 balls.
