Guyana Exacts Revenge to Win Busta Shield

Carl Hooper's Guyana side batted out the remainder of day four to secure a draw and lift the Busta Shield, the symbol of cricketing supremacy in the Caribbean.

Guyana batted out the majority of the fourth and final day to finish on 99 for three when the captains decided to call off the match with Shiv Chanderpaul (30) and Mahendra Nagamootoo (7) the not out batsmen.

Earlier, Jamaica was bowled out for 269 with a top-score of 61 from skipper Robert Samuels. Reon King (3-53), Neil McGarrell (3-93) and Nagamootoo (2-71) did the damage and Jamaica made a valiant push to give Guyana a target to chase with enough time on the last day.

With both Hooper and middle order batsman Lennox Cush nursing injuries, Guyana opted not to chase the target and batted slowly to ensure the draw.

It was no surprise who would collect the man of the match trophy. As Mikey Holding put it on the television commentary: "There were 22 players out there but, actually, it should have been one and 21 others. (Carl) Hooper looked a class above everyone else out there on the field."

Hooper's breathtaking 149 not out lifted Guyana from 190 for six to their eventual Shield-winning first innings today.

Nagamootoo, who broke the regional bowling record with 50 wickets, got an award for his achievement while Gareth Breese took the top all-rounder's prize. Stuart Williams also got an award for being the best batsman in the regional tournament.

"We owed Jamaica one. We were pretty pumped up for this game, especially after losing to Jamaica last year," Hooper said, moments before he collected the US$10,000 championship prize.

"This was a big game for us. We came out here well prepared and we desperately wanted to beat Jamaica. I was also desperate to do well before the Jamaica crowd."

FULL FINALS SCORECARD