Permaul, Paul steer Guyana to opening win

Guyana began their defence of the Regional 4-Day title with a 263-run win over Jamaica, set up by Veerasammy Permaul's match-haul of ten wickets, and a lower-order century from Keemo Paul.

Permaul's 6 for 29 in 19.5 overs skittled Jamaica out for 99 in the first innings, giving Guyana a 167-run lead. Seventy runs in Jamaica's innings came from just two batsmen - Assad Fudadin (39) and captain Paul Palmer (31) - as they were bowled out in a little over 50 overs. Guyana had earlier posted 266, with half-centuries from wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble (62) and No. 3 Chandrapaul Hemraj (60) anchoring them.

Guyana's efforts to build the 167-run lead were stifled by Dennis Bulli's strikes in their second innings but Paul, batting at No. 8 scored his maiden first-class century to ensure Jamaica were set an imposing 483 to chase in the fourth innings. His knock helped Guyana from 157 for 6, as he shared half-century stands with Leon Johnson and Sherfane Rutherford. Paul's 107 off 129 balls included 12 fours and four sixes. Bulli took his maiden first-class five for but conceded 104 runs.

A middle-order slump - they went from 98 for 2 to 115 for 6 - cost Jamaica dearly in a steep chase. Wicketkeeper Romaine Morrison pushed the score to 200 with a knock of 68 but Permaul and Paul took six wickets between them to bowl out Jamaica for 219.