Woeful Scorpions suffer fourth defeat

A forgettable season for the Jamaica Scorpions franchise came to a woeful end yesterday as they suffered their fourth defeat in the 2023 West Indies Championship following a nine-wicket loss to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their final round encounter at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Resuming on 199 for five with a slender lead of 22 runs after being asked to follow on, the Scorpions eventually folded for 275. The Red Force who required just 98 runs to win got to 102 for one to secure the nine-wicket victory.

Once again it was rookie all-rounder Abhijai Mansignh and wicketkeeper Aldane Thomas who showed some resistance as the pair put on 61 runs for the sixth wicket to delay the inevitable for the Scorpions.

Mansingh faced 54 balls and hit four fours in his knock of 32 while Thomas faced 58 balls and hit six fours and a six in his score of 39.

Both batsmen fell within five runs of each other to leave the Scorpions staring down the barrel at 257 for seven.

An 18-run ninth-wicket partnership between Ojay Shields and Derval Green who made seven apiece, stretched the Scorpions lead close to the 100 mark, but leg-spinner Imran Khan mopped up the lower order to finish with four wickets for 47 runs to set up the victory push for the home side.

Pacer Shannon Gabriel picked up two wickets for 52 runs while Anderson Phillip claimed two wickets for 46 runs. Off-spinner Brian Charles was also among the wickets by snaring two scalps for 75 runs.

With the modest total set to get the victory, the Red Force rookie openers Vikash Mohan and Kamil Pooran began the run chase positively by adding 74 runs for the opening wicket.

It took captain Jermaine Blackwood bowling his off-spin to get the breakthrough when he had Pooran bowled for 39 after the left-hander had hit six fours in his 70-ball knock.

Mohan with 44 not out and captain Daren Bravo with an unbeaten 14 then saw the Red Force home without further loss to seal their only win of the campaign.

The Jamaica Scorpions would, however, end their season as the only team not to win a game in five outings.

At Queen’s Park Oval: Pride require a further 208 for victory with seven wickets intact.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 237 (Alick Athanaze 59, Tevyn Walcott 55; Akeem Jordan 5-44) and 225 (Sunil Ambris 79, Ryan John 37, Tevyn Walcott 35; Jomel Warrican 4-58).

Barbados Pride 227 (Shayne Moseley 112; Larry Edward 6-45) and 28 for three.

At the Guyana National Stadium: Hurricanes require a further 62 runs for victory with nine wickets intact.

Guyana Harpy Eagles 122 (Matthew Nandu 22; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-27) and 267 (Kemol Savory 66, Veerasammy Permaul 65; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-58, Jeremiah Louis 3-66).

Leeward Islands Hurricanes 247 (Jahmar Hamilton 58, Kofi James 42; Nial Smith 4-33, Veerasammy Permaul 3-51) and 81 for one (Kieran Powell 47 not out).