GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)

Defending champions Jamaica dumped hosts Guyana from the WICB Cup one-day tournament yesterday when they defeated them by a comfortable 36-run margin in their fifth-round encounter at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.

The hosts, set a moderate 180 to win from the allotted 50 overs, were dismissed for a paltry 143 from 45 overs.

Their chase was pegged down by Jamaica's left-arm orthodox spinner Lorenzo Ingram and leg-spinner Bevon Brown, as both grabbed three wickets each to torment the Guyanese batsmen on a benign pitch in hazy conditions.

Key interest

The defeat effectively ended Guyana's run in the competition. They are languishing at the bottom of the table on four points, despite having another game to play against minnows Canada today.

With their second win in as many days, however, Jamaica have moved up to 11 points. It was their final preliminary round match and they will now be eyeing the results today with key interest.

Ingram finished with Man-of-the-Match figures of three for 21 from his 10 overs and was admirably supported by Brown who snatched three for 25 from seven overs.

Skipper Travis Dowlin was the only major highlight in Guyana's batting with a typically determined 60, but once he fell at 114 for six in the 37th over, Guyana quickly succumbed.

Earlier, sent in by Guyana, Jamaica lost opener Brenton Parchment for six when debutant pacer Brandon Bess found the edge and wicketkeeper Derwin Christian did the rest.

West Indies Under-19 opening batsman Horace Miller survived a straightforward chance to Dowlin at slip and went on to score a valuable 37 which included three fours from 75 deliveries.

David Bernard (20) played around for while until he was bowled by former West Indies leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo who sent down 10 miserly overs to grab one for 12.

Danza Hyatt, the eventual top scorer for the visitors with 46, batted sensibly in guiding his team to their eventual total after they were in a spot of bother at 164 for seven. He carefully built a solid innings around 87 balls while stroking five fours.