Bernard floors six as Jamaica notch third straight win

FOURSQUARE, Barbados (CMC):

Dave Bernard Jr gave the West Indies selectors a gentle reminder when he bowled leaders Jamaica to an innings and 27-run victory over Guyana in the WICB regional first-class championship yesterday.

Bernard, who was overlooked for the West Indies' trip to Australia for a limited-overs series, finished with six wickets for 40 runs from 16.4 overs, as Guyana, following on 263 runs behind, were dismissed for 236 in their second innings about five minutes before the lunch interval on the fourth and final day of the third-round match at Foursquare Oval.

Fittingly, Bernard formalised the result for the reigning champions, when Veersammy Permaul - batting at nine - essayed an ugly swipe and was bowled for the Guyana top score of 42.

The result meant that Jamaica remain the unquestionable leaders with a maximum 36 points, following previous victories over the Windward Islands in the opening round on home soil at Chedwin Park, and the Leeward Islands in the second round in St Kitts at Warner Park.

"I am happy with the way we played over the last few days," said Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert. "We completely outplayed Guyana. The hundreds from Wavell Hinds and Carlton Baugh Jr really set us up well and our first innings total of 429 over five sessions was the perfect start to the match for us."

He added: "We talked to a few of the Guyanese players and they told us that the pitch would be slow and would turn a bit, so it was surprising to see them win the toss and put us in to bat.

"Knowing Guyana through the years, they always pack their sides with spinners, so I thought that they would have batted first and then bring their spinners into play over the last few days of the game."

Guyana will remain on three points and sink to the bottom of the standings after they were led on first innings in their previous match in the competition in the second round at Antigua's Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

"I thought our fielding let us down when Jamaica batted and from there we were always behind in the game," said Guyana captain Sewnarine Chattergoon.

"Our batting also let us down badly in both innings. It's not going to get any easier, since Narsingh Deonarine is going to be travelling to Australia with West Indies for the next match and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are still injured."

The Jamaicans have drawn a bye in the next round, starting on Friday, and will take a well-earned break.

JAMAICA 1st Innings 429

(W. Hinds 151, C. Baugh 124; V. Permaul 5-91)

GUYANA 1st Innings 166

(N. Miller 6-42)

GUYANA 2nd Innings (following-on)

(overnight 161 for four)

S. Chattergoon c Pagon b Bernard 3

R. Chandrika run out (Bernard) 36

T. Dowlin lbw b Bernard 41

A. Fudadin b Bernard 54

N. Deonarine cLambert b Miller 13

R. Crandon cLambert b Miller 4

+D. Christian b Bernard 9

E. Crandon lbw b Bernard 0

V. Permaul b Bernard 42

D. Bishoo c Bernard b Brown 18

B. Bess not out 0

Extras: (b5, lb1, nb10) 16

TOTAL: (all out, 86.4 overs) 236

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-56, 3-140, 4-146, 5-161, 6-173, 7-173, 8-178, 9-236.

Bowling: Powell 17-2-59-0; Bernard 16.4-5-40-6 (nb8); Miller 24-6-50-2 (nb1); Brown 22-6-62-1 (nb1);Lambert 7-2-19-0

Result: Jamaica won by an innings and 27 runs

Points: Jamaica 12, Guyana zero

Umpires: P. Grazette, D. Holder

Man-of-the-Match: Wavell Hinds (Jamaica).