PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Veteran West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul narrowly fell short of his second regional one-day hundred as he brilliantly anchored Guyana Jaguars into the final of the NAGICO Super50 here late Thursday night.

The 40-year-old stroked an invaluable 98 not out as Jaguars, chasing 189 for victory, reached their target in the penultimate over, to seal a six-wicket victory over Jamaica Franchise in the first semi-final at Queen’s Park Oval.

He was helped by the experienced Royston Crandon, who hit a breezy unbeaten 45 from 51 balls.

In a spot of bother at 90 for four in the 32nd over, Jaguars were rescued by Chanderpaul’s enterprise in a 99-run, unbroken fifth wicket stand with the fluent Crandon.

Chanderpaul, known as ‘Tiger’, faced 142 balls in a well-paced innings and counted six fours, while Crandon was more adventurous, striking three fours and a six.

Off-spinner John Campbell was the best Jamaica bowler with three for 20.

Earlier, Horace Miller stroked his maiden regional one-day half-century, but Jamaica could only muster 188 for nine off their 50 overs.

Sent in to bat, Jamaica never really found momentum and were restricted in their quest for a big score, despite Miller’s top score of 64.

The 25-year-old right-hander faced 79 balls and struck seven fours and a six, while openers Nkrumah Bonner with 24, and Campbell, 21, also chipped in.

However, no other batsman passed 20.

Bonner and Campbell put on 51 for the first wicket but Jamaica lost four quick wickets for three runs in the space of 22 balls, to slump to 54 for four in the 19th over.

Miller then produced an innings of maturity, anchoring three small partnerships to get the score up to one of respectability.

He put on 25 for the fifth wicket with Andre McCarthy (13), 32 for the sixth wicket with David Bernard Jr (14) and a further 39 for the seventh wicket with Derval Green (11).

Guyana were led by their slow bowlers, with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo picking up three for 33 and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul finishing with three for 38.

Despite Jamaica’s modest total, the game was an open affair once pacer Green trapped opener Rajindra Chandrika lbw on the back foot for five, with the score on 17 for one in the sixth over.

However, Chanderpaul combined with Vishaul Singh, who scored 18, to add a precious 59 for the second wicket and put Jaguars firmly on course for victory.

In an inspired move, captain Nikita Miller turned to Campbell, and the 21-year-old threatened to turn the game on its head.

In his second over – the 26th of the innings – he broke the stand, bowling Vishaul as he moved down the wicket. With his very next delivery, he had the luckless Raymon Reifer caught and bowled off a leading edge.

Captain Chris Barnwell successfully averted the hat-trick delivery but added only another six runs before playing back and across and being adjudged lbw to Campbell.

With Jaguars on 90 for four and needing a hero, Chanderpaul stepped forward in tandem with Crandon, to lead a clinical revival.

Chanderpaul raised his half-century off 91 balls with a single to backward point off Campbell in the 32nd over, and then batted cautiously towards three figures before running out of time to reach the landmark.

Scoreboard

JAMAICA

N Bonner run out 24

J Campbell lbw b Jacobs 21

J Blackwood lbw b Permaul 1

A McCarthy c Permaul b Crandon 13

D Hyatt c Bramble b Permaul 0

+H Miller b Bishoo 64

D Bernard Jr c Beaton b Bishoo 14

D Green c wkp Bramble b Permaul 11

*N Miller c Crandon b Bishoo 5

D Jacobs not out 10

M Mindley not out 11

Extras (lb4, w10) 14

TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs) 188

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-51, 3-54, 4-54, 5-79, 6-111, 7-150, 8-162, 9-171

Bowling: Beaton 3-0-19-0, Jacobs 10-2-26-1, Barnwell 7-1-30-0, Permaul 10-2-38-3, Crandon 10-1-38-1, Bishoo 10-2-33-3

JAGUARS

R Chandrika lbw b Green 5

S Chanderpaul not out 98

V Singh b Campbell 18

R Reifer c & b Campbell 0

*C Barnwell lbw b Campbell 6

R Crandon not out 45

Extras (lb7, w9, nb1) 17

TOTAL (4 wkts, 48.1 overs) 189

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-76, 3-76, 4-90

Bowling: Mindley 10-2-31-0, Green 8-1-25-1, Bernard 4.1-0-28-0, Miller 10-0-39-0, Jacobs 10-0-39-0, Campbell 6-1-20-3

Result: Jaguars won by six wickets

Series: Jaguars qualify for final

Man-of-the-Match: Shiv Chanderpaul

Toss: Jaguars

Umpires: G Brathwaite, J Wilson