Honours even at Sabina Park

THE JAMAICA Scorpions registered three half-centuries on the second day of their West Indies Championship match at Sabina Park, and will resume today’s third day on 326 for seven, a two-run lead over West Indies Academy who made 324 all out.

The Scorpions’ formidable batting effort was centred around half-centuries from captain Brandon King, Leroy Lugg and Peat Salmon as the home side capitalised on a friendly batting surface.

Resuming on 20 without loss, the Scorpions started positively, with openers Carlos Brown and Kirk McKenzie gathering runs at ease in the first session.

They reached 59 before McKenzie found Nyeem Young in the covers off Kadeem Allyne for 29. That wicket brought former captain Jermaine Blackwood to the crease, but his miserable tournament continued, as he went without scoring after facing just two balls.

Once again, Brown failed to capitalise on his good start, as he became the third wicket to fall for 33 with just 67 runs on the board.

It took a 103-run fourth-wicket stand between Leroy Lugg and King to revive the Scorpions innings, with Lugg going on to get 64, which included nine fours and a six.

He, too, gave his hand away after failing to capitalise on a couple of chances.

Captain King would find another useful ally in Peat Salmon, who was promoted to bat at number six, and the pair added 58 runs for the fifth wicket before King, on 77, was bowled by Joshua Bishop.

The right-hander faced 132 balls and hit 10 fours and a six in his innings top score.

Wicket-keeper Romaine Morris and Abhijai Mansingh added 13 and 12 runs, respectively, but it was Salmon who showed his maturity with a resolute unbeaten 60 to take the Scorpions past the West Indies Academy’s first innings score.

The St Catherine CC all-rounder has so far hit five fours and a six, with all-rounder Derval Green giving good support with an unbeaten 25.

Bishop took three for 85 while Allyene picked up two for 29.

At Frank Worrell Field in Trinidad: Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners lead Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 90 with seven second-innings wickets standing.

Marooners 273 all out and 76 for three (Sadique Henry 32 not out; Jeremiah Louis 2-18). Hurricanes 259 all out (Kieran Powell 114; Romario Greaves 5 for 63).

At Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua: Barbados Pride trail Guyana Harpy Eagles by 377 with seven first-innings wickets standing.

Harpy Eagles 436 all out (Veerasammy Permaul 90, Kevlon Anderson 87, Kevin Sinclair 72.); Pride 59 for three (Jonathan Drakes 20 not out).

At Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad: Windward Islands Volcanoes trail T&T Red Force by 35 with eight second-innings wickets standing.

Volcanoes 191 all out (Alick Athanaze 56; Anderson Phillip 5 for 37) and 68 for two (Jeremy Solozano 30 not out).

Red Force 294 all out (Tion Webster 107 not out; Kenneth Dember 5 for 63).