Jamaica are the Busta champs

Kingston - Jamaica were crowned regional four-day cricket champions for 2000 yesterday after topping the Leeward Islands on first innings in their drawn Busta Cup final at Sabina Park.

The Busta Cup title completed a second successive regional title for Jamaica who late last year won the limited-overs Red Stripe Bowl competition.

Set an unlikely 353 runs to win in 50 overs on the final afternoon, the Leewards reached 114 for two when play was called off at 4:23 p.m. with seven overs remaining, giving Jamaica their first hold on the three-year-old Busta Cup.

The triumphant Jamaicans had more reason to celebrate when their prolific 20-year-old opener Chris Gayle, who scored 623 runs at an average of 56.63 in seven Busta Cup matches, was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Wavel Hinds, for his crucial first innings century, was named Man Of The Final.

An elated Jamaica captain Jimmy Adams described the last six months as 'fantastic, starting with the Red Stripe Bowl. It's just a fantastic feeling'.