The first semi-final of the Red Stripe Bowl competition, between Guyana and Jamaica, produced a thrilling tie. Batting first, Jamaica made 191 for 9 in their 50 overs. Guyana replied with 191 for 9 but go through to the final by virtue of having more wins in the qualifying stages of the tournament.

Guyana won the toss and, not surprisingly on a moist pitch, bowled first. Jamaica lost two early wickets to Reon King. Captain Robert Samuels steadied the collapse with a half-century and he found a valuable partner in Gareth Breese to pull the innings round from 75 for 5.

Breese had to retire hurt when on 15, struck a painful blow in the box when facing fast bowler Colin Stuart, returned to blast King for 14 in the final over of the innings before being run out for 42. That assault damaged King's figures and he ended with 3 for 51 from 9 overs.

In reply, Guyana lost opener Andrew Gonsalves for 3 in the second over and slipped to 58 for 3 when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was stumped for 12 after consultation with the third umpire.

Guyana's captain Carl Hooper with 31 and Ramnaresh Sarwan (35) pulled the innings round so that at 114 for 3 Guyana appeared to be coasting to victory. They looked to be coasting to defeat when both batsmen were out by the 35th over, but Neil McGarrell, batting at number 8, revived things with 24 not out from just 15 balls.

The final over, bowled by Marlon Samuels, was a classic of the genre. 11 runs were needed for victory and, with the aid of some indifferent fielding and a missed stumping opportunity, the batsmen managed to level the scores with one ball remaining. Stuart was on 14 and went for the run that would have given his side the win but, for once, the fielders were up to their task and Stuart was run out leaving the match as a tie.

The place in the final had to be decided by a count-back to wins in the preliminary stages of the competition - a calculation that came out in Guyana's favour by 3 matches to 2. They will play the winners of today's clash between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

© CricInfo