Jermaine Lannaman, Star Writer

Despite a six-wicket haul from new West Indies recruit, all-rounder Andre Russell, Jamaica were unable to progress to the final of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) 50-over tournament after going down to a 58-run defeat at the hands of Barbados in semi-final play at Sabina Park yesterday.

Barbados posted a competitive 249-9 off their allotted overs, after being sent in to bat, with Russell, who was named Man of the Match, claiming 6 for 45 off 10 overs against Barbados' Jonathan Carter, 59 off 57 balls, and Dwayne Smith, 55 off 50 balls.

Jamaica, needing to score at a run-rate of five runs per over, however, failed in their attempt to overhaul the target, and in the end were dismissed for 191 off 44.1 overs on the back of sterling bowling performances from left-arm spinner, captain Ryan Hinds, who claimed 4 for 19 off 9.1 overs, and 23 year-old pacer Javon Searles, 3 for 51 off eight overs.

Brendan Nash, who made 52 off 93 balls, topscored for Jamaica.

"It's a disappointing end to the tournament, but congrats to Barbados. They put us under a lot of pressure, and eventually pulled through," said Jamaica's captain, Chris Gayle.

"It would have been good if we could have pulled it off and advance to the final, but that's how it goes. We will now just have to turn our attention to the Twenty20 tournament, which will be held early next year."

After winning the toss and electing to field, Gayle must have been kissing his lucky stars as after just 3.4 overs Jamaica had the visitors tottering at 27-2 with hard-hitting opener Dale Richards falling leg before wicket off the bowling of Russell for a two-ball duck, and Hinds caught behind by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh for three.

The Bajans, however, did not roll over and die, and thanks to a 36-run third-wicket stand between opener Jason Haynes, who made a 29-ball 14 runs, and stylish middle-order batsman Kirk Edwards, who made a 53-ball 34, they were able to stage a brief recovery.

The 22 year-old Carter then came to the crease, and along with Edwards put on 82 runs for the fourth wicket.

With the platform laid for a challenging total, Barbados then capitalised on the situation, courtesy of the hard-hitting Smith, who batted with uncharacteristic patience in the early part of his innings, and last-wicket pair, Kemar Roach (13 not out) and Tino Best (15 not out), who put on an unbroken 34-run last-wicket partnership.

Jamaica, in their reply, got off to a fairly good start with openers Gayle (16 off 19) and Marshall (20 off 31) putting on 32 for the first wicket.

They, however, failed to put together any meaningful partnerships thereafter, and despite a 58-run sixth-wicket partnership between Nash and David Bernard Jr, who made an equally fighting 38-ball 28, they fell short.

"It thought Russell bowled extremely well to put us under pressure. However, we have a fairly decent middle-to lower- order batting, and today they came to the party," said Ryan.

Barbados will play the Leeward Islands in Sunday's final, also at Sabina Park. The Leewards had on Thursday defeated the Windward Islands by four runs in the first semi-final.