Bermuda were declared joint winners with Jamaica of the Christmas Festival cricket tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, after the match with Guyana to decide the overall winners was rained out with Bermuda well placed.

Four countries took part in the round robin tournament hosted by the South Florida Cricket Association and involving 30-over matches.

Bermuda had the best of starts when they beat Jamaica, containing the likes of Wayne Lewis, Robert Samuels, Nehemiah Perry and Robert Haynes, by a narrow two-run margin.

Bermuda batted first and scored 104 all out off 28 overs with brothers Wendell and Clay Smith leading the way, scoring 28 and 21 respectively during a partnership of 50. Dean Minors scored 14 and there were 15 extras.

Jamaica replied with 102 all out off 30 overs, with Minors getting a stumping off the last ball of the innings after Jamaica went into that final over needing three runs from the bowling of Bruce Perinchief to win.

Perry scored 29 and Samuels 24 while the 17 extras Bermuda conceded, mostly in wides, nearly cost them the match.

The bowlers were limited to six overs each. Clarkie Trott claimed two for 11, Del Hollis two for 17 and Perinchief two for 21. Lionel Cann was the most expensive, taking one for 32.

In other matches the United States beat Guyana by five wickets after bowling out Guyana for just 68 while Jamaica beat the United States (125 to 126-3) with Wayne Lewis scoring 49.

In the night-time match with Guyana, which began at about 8.00, Bermuda reached 92-3 off 23 overs when the rain came and prevented any further play.

Clay was on 42 not out, with Gladwin Edness just having come in to join him, while Jeff Richardson scored 10 and Wendell Smith 26, as he and his younger brother added 49 for the second wicket.

"I'm quite pleased,'' said BCBC vice president Rudolph (Mutt) Lawrence who was manager of the team. "What went over for us was the fielding where I thought we stood out. Everybody fielded exceptionally well.

"This is really something to build on. The bowlers bowled off a restricted run up and you had to bowl good. If you bowled short you got punished.'' The matches were played at the former spring training ground of the New York Yankees which will eventually be turned over to the South Florida Cricket Association who held the tournament to try to promote the game in the area where they have some 35 clubs.