Guyana in shield final

Guyana ended England "A"'s 44-match unbeaten streak with an emphatic seven-wicket victory to move into the Busta International Shield against Jamaica.

But, up until late last night, there was doubt over the venue of the final, which is scheduled to start Friday.

There was some uncertainty over the interpretation of playing conditions and reports indicated that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was seeking a legal opinion.

In a release on Monday, the WICB said that should both finalists have the same number of victories, the team to host the final would be the one with the higher net run-rate throughout the series, which also included the Busta Cup.

Calculations by NATIONSPORT give Jamaica (1.384) and a higher rate than Guyana (1.275).

Guyanese officials, however, are contending that they should stage the final on the basis that they had more points than Jamaica.

Guyana, set 205 for victory in a possible 70 overs, after England "A" had subsided for 247 half-hour before lunch yesterday, won comfortably, reaching 208 for three with 9.3 of the 15 mandatory still remaining.

The not out batsmen when victory was achieved were Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 49 and first innings century-maker Ramnaresh Sarwan on two.