GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

BARBADOS CLAIMED a record 20th regional four-day title when they beat Guyana by five wickets on the third day of their final round Carib Beer Series match to win the Carib Beer Cup at Bourda yesterday. Using fiery pace from Tino Best and crafty spin bowling by their captain Ryan Hinds, Barbados ripped out Guyana for a flimsy second innings 90 all out and then - set 108 to win - strode to victory at 111 for five shortly after tea.

The win vaulted unbeaten Barbados to an unassailable 54 points and reduced the key match between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in Jamaica to a straight fight for the runner-up spot and a place in the Challenge Final against the Barbadians.

Overcame stutter

In completing their fourth win from five games, Barbados overcame a minor stutter and reached the target as wicketkeeper Carlo Morris lofted off-spinner Royston Crandon for a six and four off consecutive deliveries to end the contest 23 minutes after tea.

Man-of-the-Match Hinds had earlier grabbed five for 19 off nine overs with his left-arm spin as Guyana fell 10 short of a hundred in their second innings, their third lowest total ever and the second lowest recorded at this level on South American soil.

Hinds received admirable support from Best, who took four for 33 off nine overs.

SCORES:GUYANA 285 - (Sewnarine Chattergoon 62, Derwin Christian 52, Assad Fudadin 49, Azeemul Haniff 46; Ryan Hinds 3-38, Fidel Edwards 3-60, Tino Best 2-55) & 90 (Travis Dowlin 24; Ryan Hinds 5-19, Tino Best 4-33).

BARBADOS 268 - (Dale Richards 84, Floyd Reifer 41, Shamarh Brooks 25, Tino Best 23 not out, Alcindo Holder 23; Mahendra Nagamootoo 4-67, Jeremy Gordon 2-50, Veerasammy Permaul 2-51, Rayon Griffith 2-63) and 111-5 (Shamarh Brooks 28, Floyd Reifer 27, Ryan Hinds 22; Veerasammy Permaul 3-25).

Meanwhile in St. Maarten, the Leeward Islands, 90 runs ahead of the Windward Islands on first innings, reached 165 for six in their second innings at the close of the third day at the Carib Lumber Park Ground.

SCORES: LEEWARDS 382 - (Austin Richards 183, Runako Morton 77, Sylvester Joseph 24; Denis George 3-82, Liam Sebastien 2-53, Deighton Butler 2-57, Kenroy Peters 2-57) and 165-6 (Austin Richards 43, Runako Morton 34, Jason Williams 34 not out, Justin Athanaze 22 not out; Liam Sebastien 3-34).

WINDWARDS 292 - (Rawl Lewis 74, Andre Fletcher 69, Lyndon James 55, Darren Sammy 36; Justin Athanaze 3-68, Lionel Baker 2-43, Adam Sanford 2-60).