ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) - Man-of-the-match Ramnaresh Sarwan inspired Guyana to a comprehensive 114-run victory over the University of West Indies XI in their Zone B Red Stripe Bowl limited overs match at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) yesterday.
Sarwan top-scored with 91 in the Guyana total 258 for six off 50 overs and then returned to capture three for 49 to help bundle out the University side for 144 in 40.5 overs.
It was Guyana's second win in as many matches and they are on course for a semi-final berth next week.
Sarwan, who faced 121 balls and struck eight fours, shared in two strong partnerships that paved the way for the Guyana total.
He put on 95 for the second wicket with Sewnarine Chattergoon (54) after they came together following the loss of Ryan Ramdass (16) at 30 for one.
Sarwan and his captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, increased the tempo in a stand of 86 for the third wicket before the more aggressive Chanderpaul skied a catch to wicketkeeper Keith Hibbert off pacer Jason Bennett.
Chanderpaul's 39-ball innings of 47 contained three fours and a six.
Sarwan was fifth out at 235 for five.
Off-spinner Stanton Proverbs, who accounted for Sarwan, took three for 44 and pacer Jason Bennett had two for 42 from 10 overs.
After seamer Esuan Crandon removed Hibbert (4) and Reon Griffith disturbed the stumps of captain Philo Wallace, first ball, leg-spinner Sarwan and occasional spinner Lennox Cush got among the wickets to leave the University XI hopelessly placed on 106 for five.
Shawn Graham batted steadily for a top score of 51 off 102 balls with four fours, while Proverbs chipped in with 20 and Ryan Nurse smacked 17 with two huge sixes.
Sarwan finished with three for 49 and there were two scalps each for Cush (2-5), Mahendra Nagamootoo (2-24) and Crandon (2-33).
GUYANA innings
S.Chattergoon c wkp. Hibbert b Proverbs 54
D.Ramdass c wkp. Hibbert b Bennett 16
R.Sarwan c Hughes b Proverbs 91
S.Chanderpaul c wkp. Hibbert b Bennett 47
L.Cush stp. Hibbert b Proverbs 0
T.Dowlin c Bishop b Cunningham 7
M.Nagamootoo not out 13
N.McGarrell not out 8
Extras: (lb-9, nb-3, w-10) 22
Total: (for 6 wickets - 50 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-125, 3-211, 4-211, 5-235, 6-240.
Bowling: Nurse 10-1-48-0, Bennett 10-0-42-2 (w-5), Cunningham 10-1-49-1, Jordan 5-0-30-0 (w-2, nb-3), Bishop 6-0-36-0, Proverbs 9-0-44-3 (w-2).
U.W.I. XI innings
J.Haynes c Sarwan b Crandon 11
+K.Hibbert c Chanderpaul b Crandon 4
*P.Wallace b Griffith 0
S.Graham c Ramdass b Cush 51
J.Parris c Ramdass b Sarwan 17
S.Proverbs c Crandon b Sarwan 20
R.Nurse c Griffith b Cush 17
D.Bishop c Ramdass b Nagamootoo 6
R.Cunningham c Ramdass b Nagamootoo 3
J.Bennett c wkp. Nagamootoo b Sarwan 2
D.Jordan not out 0
Extras: (lb-1, w-6, nb-6) 13
Total: (all out off 40.5 overs) 144
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-10, 3-35, 4-68, 5-106, 6-125, 7-135, 8-138, 9-141.
Bowling: Griffith 8-1-23-1 (w-3), Crandon 7-0-33-2 (w-2), McGarrell 7-1-9-0, Sarwan 9.5-0-49-3 (nb-3), Cush 3-1-5-2 (w-1), Nagamootoo 6-1-24-2 (nb-3).