The ICC Americas team featuring Bermudian pair Nzari Paynter and Chare Smith lost their opening match in the West Indies Regional Under-19 Tournament yesterday by six wickets to Guyana at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent.

Batting first after Guyana won the toss, the Americas team posted 173 all out in 48.5 overs. Guyana, the defending champions of the 50-over tournament after beating Jamaica in last year’s final, replied with 174 for four in 34.2 overs.

Opener Akashdeep Gill was top batsman for the Americas team with 41 from 94 balls, while tail-ender Aran Pathmanathan scored 28 from two fours and a six.

Paynter, batting at No 6, scored eight off 11 balls while last-man Smith scored three before giving Keemo Paul, the seam bowler, a return catch for his fourth wicket of the innings. Paul had figures of four for 37 from 5.5 overs, while Akenie Adams took three for 27 off ten overs.

In the Guyana innings, Paul, batting at No 4, led the run chase with 72 from 93 balls with six fours and four sixes, while Bhaskar Yadram scored 57 not out off 63 balls with nine boundaries. The pair came together at a critical stage, 34 for three in the eleventh over, and rebuilt the innings with a fourth wicket stand of 111 before Paul departed in the 30th over.

Smith, who took the new ball for the Americas, bowled only three overs, giving up 11 runs. Paynter was the eighth bowler used and only bowled two deliveries before conceding the winning run. Keifer Phill, who shared the new ball with Smith, took two for 47 off nine overs.

The ICC Americas play their second match of the round robin tournament today when they meet the Leeward Islands at Park Hill.

Yesterday, Barbados beat Leeward Island by seven wickets after dismissing the Leewards for 105 in 40.2 overs and replying with 106 for three in 22.3 overs. In the other match Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago by six wickets, 131 to 135 for four.