WESTERN BUREAU:
JAMAICA YESTERDAY won the Air Jamaica Cup when they defeated the United States Invitational X1 by 36 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis System after rain affected their 50 overs game at the Trelawny multi-purpose stadium near Falmouth.
Invited to bat after losing the toss, Jamaica made 213 for seven off 47 overs when their innings was cut short by rain. Initially, the U.S. team was set 227 to win off 47 overs, but two more rain delays saw the final target set at 168 off 28.
Jamaica, who opened with Damion Ebanks and Danza Hyatt, progressed to 15 before Ebanks fell to a catch off Glen Anglin for seven. Lambert joined Hyatt and they added 33 for the second wicket before Hyatt was dismissed for 22 with the score at 48.
Run-out route
Lorenzo Ingram, departed via the run-out route for 13 with the score on 86. Lambert was then joined by David Bernard Jr. and they took the score to 98 before Lambert, who struck two fours and two sixes, fell to a catch off the bowling of Steve Massish for 34.
Andre McCarthy added 23 runs with Bernard before he was dismissed, caught off spinner Nicardo McFarlane for 11. Shane Powell batted with assurance in a 58-run sixth wicket partnership with Bernard before the latter fell for 39 at 179 for six.
With the overs running out, Daren Powell joined his namesake and they pushed the score to 190 before Powell (Shane) was dismissed leg before for 33 with the score at 190 for seven.
When the rain ended Jamaica's innings at 213 runs for seven, Powell (Daren) was left not out on 25, and Nikita Miller was on four. McFarlane was the best of the U.S. bowlers bagging 3-13 off 10 overs.
Asked to get 227 off 47 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis method, the U.S. got to 71 for four off 18 overs when rain again intervened. Upon resumption, they were asked to get 168 off 28 overs, but at 102 for five and the light fading fast, the umpires called off the game, giving the Jamaicans victory.
Renardo Francis, who made 33, was the best of the U.S. batsmen, while pacer Jermaine Lawson was the pick of the Jamaican bowlers with 2-39 off six overs.
