Christie Jones - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):
Opener Horace Miller produced a devastating century to propel Jamaica to the capture of the 2007 TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge limited-overs title at Warner Park Saturday.
Miller plundered a whirlwind 133 as Jamaica, chasung Guyana's 225 all out of 50 overs, raced to 229 for two just off 40.5 overs to seal an emphatic eight-wicket victory.
The right-hander brutally clobbered 14 fours and eight sixes from just 115 balls and featured in a record first-wicket partnership of 188 with Christie Jones who supported well with an attractive 62 from 101 balls, including four fours and a six.
Miller, who is eligible for another year at this level, played an array of audacious shots and completely took the game away from the Guyanese who had little answer to his vicious assault.
He reached his century with a straight six, dumped left-arm spinner Eugene La Fleur for another massive one to post Jamaica's 200 and then celebrated with an even bigger one the very next ball, as he provided plenty of entertainment for the crowd which included St. Kitts' Sports Minister Ricky Skerritt and the three West Indies selectors.
First-wicket partnership
This was the second century first-wicket partnership between Miller and Jones after the pair posed a 105-run stand against Barbados earlier in the tournament.
By thetime Jones pulled Steven Jacobs to mid-wicket in the 36th over, Jamaica were already coasting to victory.
With 17 runs needed for victory, Miller hit La Fleur to point to be caught but Nkruma Bonner continued the carnage with two fours and a six in an over from pacer Kellon Carmichael to finish unbeaten on 15, and ensure Jamaica got home in style.
Earlier, the adverse weather which disrupted the semi-finals on Friday gave way to brilliant sunshine as Jamaica won the toss and put Guyana in.
Guyana, the three-day cham-pions, got a workmanlike 79 from Vishal Singh and 43 from skipper Steven Jacobs to get up to their eventual score.
The pair shared an important stand of 64 to rescue their side after Guyana had slipped to 55 for three.
Opener Robin Bacchus (5) was bowled by pacer Garth Garvey at 21 for one in the second over as Guyana were aided by eight wides and eight no-balls in the first two overs.
The lively Jason Dawes then had Jonathan Foo (4) caught at short-leg six runs later while Rajendra Chandrika (15) was bowled leg stump by skipper Deval Green at 55 for three.
Singh joined Jacobs and the pair batted responsibly before Jacobs, when again well set for a big score, threw his wicket away by pulling a long-hop from off-spinner Andre Creary to deep mid-wicket to leave the score on 119 for four.
Jacobs' 43 lasted 72 balls and was decorated with six fours.
Seon Hetimyer (4) ran himself out at 130 for five while Eugene La Fleur (8) was stumped off Creary after sharing 41 for the sixth wicket with Singh.
Elegant shots
Singh, who played some elegant shots after a cautious start, was never able to dominate the bowling and eventually lofted Jones to long-off at 216 for seven in the 48th over.
His 79 came from 121 balls and included nine fours and a six. His demise triggered another uninspiring performance from the lower order who only managed 10 runs from the last four overs despite a 19-ball cameo from Clive Andries who struck three fours and a six in 24.
Jones (2-23) and Creary (2-48) were the most successful bowlers for the Jamaicans.
GUYANA
| R Bacchus b Garvey | 5 |
| R Chandrika b Green | 15 |
| J Foo c Creary b Dawes | 4 |
| S Jacobs c Thomas b Creary | 43 |
| V Singh b Jones | 79 |
| S Hetimyer run out | 4 |
| E La Fleur st Lindsay b Creary | 8 |
| C Andries b Jones | 24 |
| K Carmichael run out | 3 |
| V Permaul run out | 4 |
| +D Jacobs not out | 1 |
| Extras (lb5, w19, nb11) | 35 |
| TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) | 225 |
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-27, 3-55, 4-119, 5-130, 6-171, 7-216, 8-216, 9-223, 10-225. Bowling: Dawes 9-1-43-1, Garvey 2-0-21-1, Green 10-3-22-1, Hoilette 3-0-18-0, Merchant 6-1-11-0, Thomas 2-0-18-0, Bonner 3-0-18-0, Creary 10-0-46-2, Jones 5-0-23-2. JAMAICA H Miller c Bacchus b La Fleur | 133 |
| C Jones c Carmichael b Jacobs | 62 |
| N Bonner not out | 15 |
| S Thomas not out | 6 |
| Extras (lb5, w8) | 13 |
| TOTAL (2 wkts, 40.5 overs) | 229 |
Fall of wickets: 1-188, 2-209. Bowling: Carmichael 3-0-36-0, La Fleur 9-0-63-1, Jacobs 10-1-42-1, Permaul 10-0-24-0, Andries 5.5-0-40-0, Foo 3-0-19-0. Result: Jamaica won by eight wickets. Toss: Jamaica. Umpires: Luther Kelly, Wycliffe Mitcham.
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