Anthony Foster, Freelance Reporter

Antigua and Barbuda's Wilden Cornwall is caught by Guyana's wicketkeeper Derwin Christian off the bowling of Lennox Cush (out of pic) for nought, during their Stanford 20/20 quarter-final at the Stanford Cricket Ground on Sunday night. - Photo courtesy of the Stanford 20/20 web site

COOLIDGE, Antigua:

Defending champions Guyana booked their semi-final spot against Jamaica after dispatching host Antigua and Barbuda Pro Team by 10 runs during the Stanford 20/20 tournament on Sunday night.

In the last quarter-final matches, played at the Stanford Cricket Ground, Guyana left it late before getting by the hosts in front of a sold-out stadium, which housed over 8,000 spectators.

Batting first, the Ramnaresh Sarwan-led team posted a modest 146 for nine off their allotted 20 overs, but Antigua and Barbuda Pro Team, who lost wickets at regular intervals, managed only 136 for nine.

Sent to bat, Guyana, after the loss of Sewnarine Chattergoon (18), were paced by a crucial 56-run second wicket stand between Travis Dowlin and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, which brought them back into contention.

However, after the departure of Chanderpaul, bowled for 20 by pacer Chad Hampson, who also removed the dangerous Ramnaresh Sarwan (0) and Dowlin, caught on the long-on boundary by Orlando Peters for 57, Guyana struggled towards the end.

Christopher Barnwell, however, chipped in with 26 off 16 deliveries towards the end, an innings Sarwan described as the match-winner.

Hampson ended with three for 23 and Justin Athanaze two for 30.

In their turn at bat, Antigua and Barbuda struggled to 25 for three, but skipper Sylvester Joseph and Peters added 41 for the fourth wicket, which brought them slightly back on level terms. Again, wickets begun to tumble at regular intervals and, in the end, only Peters with 32 and Joseph, who threatened to take the game in the final over with two sixes and a four off McGarrell, ended on 62 not out.

Five sixes

Joseph's innings included five sixes and two fours off 37 deliveries. Joseph was named Man-of-the-Match for his knock while one of the sixes off McGarrell gave him Play-of-the-Day, for a total take home of US$35,000.

Royston Crandon took 4-33 and Lennox Cush 2-14.

Guyanese captain Sarwan said: "I thought Dowlin and Chanderpaul batted well, but after losing them and myself in the space of three overs, Barnwell brought things back nicely for us," he said.

"Mahendra Nagamootoo bowled well at a crucial time also," he said, while admitting Jamaica's game will be their toughest.

Meanwhile, Antigua's captain Sylvester Joseph, said: "Inexperience got the better of us. The inexperience of the guys chasing was what let us down," he added, while saying they would have preferred to be chasing 130.

Trinidad & Tobago will face Barbados in the first semi-final on Friday.