After twelve days and twenty one matches of indifferent and somewhat disappointing cricket, with only two centuries and three five-wicket hauls, the finalists of the Red Stripe Bowl (RSB) are finally known.

Defending champions Barbados take on two-time RSB winners Guyana at Kaiser on Jamaica’s glamorous north coast in what should be a gruelling encounter given the unforgiving and batsman-unfriendly nature of the pitch, as was proven during the two semi-finals when no team got past 200. Guyana turned in 183, Jamaica flopped for 179, Barbados struggled to 175 and Trinidad and Tobago faltered badly to 114.

The batsmen though could have done better, but given what has transpired throughout the RSB, low totals seem as though they would be the order of the day, come Sunday.

In Zone B Guyana slid past the Young West Indies, took out the University team, went down to Barbados and then shot out Antigua to get to the semis to prevail over Jamaica in a thriller.

Barbados blasted UWI, were humiliated by Antigua, devastated Guyana and then waltzed by the Young Windies to head to Jamaica where they conquered Trinidad and Tobago with efficient ease.

One thing the two finalists have in common is that they both competed in Zone B and it is somewhat ironic that all the teams from Zone A, which was dubbed the stronger group, are now resting at their respective homes.

When Guyana batted first they put totals of 252 for 6 (v Young WI), 258 for 6 (v UWI), 191 for 9 (v Barbados) and 183 all out (v Jamaica) on the board.

The only time the South Americans took second strike they were successful in getting to 185 for 6 to beat Antigua.

Barbados batted second three times and raced to 176 for 3 (v UWI), 194 for 2 (v Guyana) and 162 for 7 (v Young WI). When taking first strike Barbados managed 184 to lose to Antigua and 175 to Trinidad but won.

So far Guyana has scored the most runs in the tournament. In five matches they have put on 1069 runs for the loss of 37 wickets overall. Jamaica comes closest with 1019 also from five matches and for 37 wickets as well.

Barbados takes third with 891 runs for the loss of 32 wickets in total.

There were ten scores of over 200, with the Leewards XI scoring three (265, 207 & 203) and Guyana (258 & 252) and Jamaica (281 & 210) scoring two each. Barbados has not reached 200 as yet, their highest being 194 for 2 against Guyana.

Neither Guyana nor Barbados has had a centurion. Dwayne Smith did the best for Barbados, smashing his way to 92 when they demolished the Guyanese attack and Ramnaresh Sarwan topped for Guyana, getting 91 in easy pickings against the Universities team.

Those were the second and third highest individual scores in Zone B and the third and fourth top scores overall following the two centuries by Trinidadians Shazam Babwah (103*) and young prodigy Lendl Simmons (100).

Sarwan and his captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul both have 180 runs at an average of 36 to lead the Guyana batsmen. They are also second among all players, trailing West Indies and Jamaica opener Chris Gayle who ended on 191.

The two openers, Sewnarine Chattergoon (147) and Ryan Ramdass (121) are the other two batters to have gone past 100 for Guyana. Sarwan has two half centuries while Chanderpaul, Chattergoon and Ramdass each have one.

There were four Barbadian half centuries. Smith (92*), Sherwin Campbell (62), Floyd Reifer (54) and wicket keeper/captain Courtney Browne (50*) registered one apiece. Browne has the most runs with 141 while Smith and Campbell settle on 130 and Dale Richards is also over 100 with 110.

Ian Bradshaw has the best individual figures of the two teams with his startling 5 for 22 against the Trinidadians in the semi finals when the Barbadians needed it so desperately. The left arm seamer is one of only three bowlers (Dinanath Ramnarine and Tonito Willett are the other two) to have pocketed five-fers this year. Pedro Collins though, has the most wickets for Barbados with 10 to Bradshaw’s 9.

The leg spinner, Mahendra Nagamootoo, is Guyana’s bowling trump card with 12 wickets at an average of 13.75 and best figures of 4 for 50.

The highest score registered at Kaiser in the two semi-finals is 67 from the bat of Gayle. No other batsman made it past 50 with the unlikely left arm spinner from Guyana, Neil McGarrell (43) and Smith (37) doing next best.

Statistically this one is too close to call but all of Guyana would be hoping for a reversal of the result the last time the two teams clashed.