By Nigel Henderson in Kingston, Jamaica Back-to-back Jamaican wins in the Red Stripe Bowl on the weekend left a semi-final place beckoning for Bermuda.

The Island plays Guyana today and the Windward Islands tomorrow, but judging by the way Jamaica swept both aside at Sabina Park they need not go into either match without any fears.

Indeed, said captain Charlie Marshall, the Jamaicans are backing Bermuda to beat both teams after impressing in their narrow defeat to the host in a rain-affected match at Alpart last week.

"The Jamaicans are 150 percent in support of Bermuda, '' said Marshall last night. "They know we were robbed. I was talking to Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh over the weekend and they agreed we should have won.

"And the Jamaican fans have been saying they can see the improvement in our cricket.'' Jamaica beat Bermuda by just 11 runs after the visitors were set a revised target of 106 in 25 overs following three hours of rain.

Jamaica themselves had made only 64 after 25 overs of their innings and had the bizarre Duckworth/Lewis run-rate system to thank for their victory. The hosts beat both Bermuda's forthcoming opponents by seven wickets. Opening bowler Franklyn Rose ripped through the Windwards top order on Saturday to have them reeling at 33 for seven before the Windwards fought back with an eight-wicket stand of 39 which ultimately lifted them to 101 all out.

Yesterday leg spinner Bryan Murphy picked up three wickets as Guyana were skittled for 146.

Guyana's spinners Muhammad Nagamootoo and Neil McGarrell, who spun the Windwards out at Alpart, were too short and wayward in direction too often, as the tall left-handed Jamaican opener Chris Gayle led his team to victory with an impressive undefeated 75.

Guyana would have struggled further but for a defiant 46 by skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Windies batsman Chanderpaul has been in relatively subdued form of late, but he hit an undefeated 97 against Bermuda last year and Marshall sees his wicket as being crucial in deciding the outcome of today's game.

" This tournament has seen a lot of low scores,'' he said. "We just need to put a lot of pressure on Chanderpaul and if we can get him early I can't see them scoring too many runs.

"I am quite certain if we play to our strengths -- and it's important we bat, bowl and field to our potential -- that we can win.

"The only thing that gives me any cause for concern is our batting. We mustn't expect certain players to do the job for us. Sometimes there is an expectation that will happen and too many of our batsmen play their best cricket in the dressing room, but hopefully it will all come together.'' Bermuda delayed naming their team until this morning but Aaron Adams was expected to be brought in to give added strength and durability to the middle order. Irving Romaine could be the player to miss out.

The two spinners, Peter Philpott and Hasan Durham, will most likely play again with young off spinner Steven Outerbridge and paceman David Gibbs sitting it out again.

Jamaica top the group with a maximum six points from their three games while Guyana, the defending champions, need a victory against Bermuda to be sure of progressing. However if Bermuda can upset the odds today they would be in position of needing a win against the Windwards to qualify for the semi-finals.

If Bermuda could beat Guyana but were to lose to the Windwards, three teams would be left on two points with run rate deciding which team will qualify.

However the issue is further complicated in that run rate cannot be counted in matches decided by the Duckworth/Lewis system.

Chanderpaul: Prize wicket.