(In Barbados compliments of Universal DVD, Kares Engineering and Giftland OfficeMax)
THANKS to some penetrative off-spin bowling from man-of -the-match Narsingh Deonarine, Guyana came away with a crushing innings and 66-run victory over hosts Barbados just before lunch in their fifth-round West Indies Cricket Board Regional 4-Day encounter at the Kensington Oval yesterday. The 28-year-old Deonarine, whose previous best was 5 for 94 against the Leeward Islands in St Maarten, ended with career- best figures of 7 for 26, as Barbados were skittled out for a record and an embarrassingly low 58, having made 79 against Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) 20 years ago.
Scores to date: Barbados 317 and 58 Guyana 441
Barbados, having defeated both T&T and the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) handsomely in their previous two matches, the homesters resumed the final day on 5 for 1 with Kraigg Brathwaite on 3 and Miguel Cummins yet to score, looking to score another 119 to avoid an innings defeat.
The Bajans lost their last nine wickets for 61 runs yesterday. In the process, Deonarine, along with Ronsford Beaton who took 2 for 17, guided Guyana to their third win of the tournament, despite some resistance from Shamarh Brooks and Christopher Jordan with a top score of 15 each, 20 minutes before lunch.
Brathwaite (9), Ryan Hinds (2) and Cummins (0) were dismissed within the first half hour of the day’s play, as Deonarine and Beaton troubled the home team’s batsmen on a wicket that was keeping low at times in hazy conditions. The score was 17 for 4.
When Assad Fudadin held a brilliant catch at third slip, – one of five in the innings – to account for Jonathan Carter who failed to score off Beaton, Barbados were staring down the barrel of defeat as they were tottering on 18 for 5, with Brooks on 1 and still needing 106 more to avoid an innings defeat.
Deonarine removed Kenroy Williams (2), who was bowled attempting an expansive drive. He was followed three balls later by Shane Dowrich (4), caught by Fudadin at forward short leg, after hitting the previous delivery for four to get off the mark, leaving Barbados tottering  on 29 for 7.
Brooks fought back for his team and country with a sweetly timed drive through the covers for four off Beaton, while Jordan who had taken his maiden five-wicket haul in Guyana’s first innings, also chalked up a boundary through cover point off the same bowler.
Brooks’ vigil came to an end when he was caught and bowled by Deonarine for 15 (47 balls, 61 minutes 3×4), after he got a leading edge to a delivery which he looked to turn to the leg side, leaving Barbados precariously placed on 48 for 8, with the luncheon break 30 minutes away.
Surprisingly, Barbados reached the 50-run mark in the 26th over, when Jordan turned Deonarine to long leg for his third four, before Sulieman Benn and Pedro Collins were both dismissed without scoring, sending Barbados into a humiliating defeat 10 minutes later.
Jordan was left unbeaten on 15 (35 balls, 55 minutes 3×4)  as Guyana moved to 36 points and all but confirm their place in the semifinals with yesterday’s win. The Guyanese now head into their final round game against T&T in the Twin Island Republic this weekend, while Barbados take on Leeward Islands at Kensington Oval.