GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

A NEAR run-a-ball half-century from Tamar Lambert carried holders Jamaica close, but Barbados kept their composure and completed a 21-run victory in the WICB Cup one-day competition yesterday.

The Jamaica captain hit 76 from 82 balls, as the defending champions, chasing 250 for victory from their 50 overs, were dismissed with nine balls remaining in their opening match.

The Jamaicans had let Barbados off the hook, as Dwayne Smith made 64 not out from 47 balls and Ryan Hinds supported with 56 from 88 balls to lead the winners to 249 for five from their 50 overs.

Early setback

Jamaica suffered an early setback when Brenton Parchment was adjudged lbw to Pedro Collins for a duck in the third over, but Horace Miller scored 42 and Dave Bernard Jr 26 to give them some momentum in a stand of 66 for the second wicket.

However, Hinds, bowling his un-complicated left-arm spin, removed them both, and Danza Hyatt was run out for five when he failed to beat Tino Best's throw from short third man to wicketkeeper Patrick Browne to leave Jamaica 97 for four.

Lambert, however, took charge of the situation, and got Jamaica moving again, when he struck three fours and two sixes in a purposeful knock, and he added 67 with Lorenzo Ingram.

Little resistance

Dwayne Smith removed Ingram for 25 but Lambert continued to dominate in a stand of 30 with Keith Hibbert before they were both removed to leave Jamaica 198 for seven.

There was little resistance from the rest of the batting, as the Jamaicans lost their last three wickets for 10 runs.

Left-arm fast-medium bowler Pedro Collins collected three wickets for 39 runs from nine overs and Hinds snared three for 40 from his allotment of 10 overs.

AT EVEREST: The Leewards Islands beat Canada by 184 runs.

Scores: LEEWARDS 367 for four off 50 overs (Austin Richards 141, Omari Banks 75 not out, Runako Morton 72, Tonito Willett 23, Kieran Powell 22; Karun Jethi 2-50, Javier Baidwan 2-62).

CANADA 183 for seven off 50 overs (Quasir Ali 52, Sunil Dhaniram 44, Javier Baidwan 38 not out; Omari Banks 2-24).

Four-wicket win

AT THE NATIONAL STADIUM: Guyana beat Combined Campuses and Colleges by four wickets.

Scores: CCC 250 for six off 50 overs (Romel Currency 102 not out, Kurt Wilkinson 76, Ramnarine Chattergoon 36; Veerasammy Permaul 2-25, Mahendra Nagamootoo 2-52).

GUYANA 252 for six off 48.3 overs (Narsingh Deonarine 67, Assad Fudadin 57 not out, Chris Barnwell 51, Derwin Christian 26 not out; Ramnarine Chattergoon 2-42).