Scorpions claim second win of Super50 season

AFTER A less-than auspicious start to the CG United Super50 season, the Jamaica Scorpions have now won two games on the trot.

Yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval, the Scorpions fielding unit held its nerve to grab a 19-run win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

The result sees the Scorpions climb to fourth on the eight-team table, behind the Barbados Pride, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, and defending champions, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, in that order.

Batting first, the Jamaicans got through 30.1 overs for the loss of four wickets when the rains came to halt proceedings.

The total came, thanks largely to Kirk McKenzie’s unbeaten 59 and skipper John Campbell’s 41.

Carlos Brown chipped in with 25 against the bowling of Darel Cyrus, who took 2-21.

Set a revised DLS total of 206 in 30 overs, the Volcanoes were dismissed in 29.3 overs for 186 with Maquino Mindley continuing his good form with the ball.

Mindley ended with figures of 4-33 and was ably assisted by Odean Smith, 2-31, and Tamarie Redwood, 2-31.

The Scorpions got off to a good start, racing to 49 from just 6.2 overs when Brown’s aggressive knock came to an end, courtesy of Shamar Springer’s bowling.

Campbell was then joined by McKenzie and the two set about repairing the innings before Kenneth Dember denied Campbell a half-century he had already paid 49 balls for.

McKenzie continued as usual but had to watch Jermaine Blackwood (13) and Javelle Glenn (two) head back to the pavilion in the space of seven overs, which cost just 29 runs.

Rain ended the innings with Brad Barnes on an extremely patient two from 17 deliveries.

The response from the Volcanoes was not the best, with Mindley ripping the heart from the top order, accounting for openers, Alick Athanaze (six), and Stephan Pascal without scoring.

A partnership worth 74 between Kavem Hodge (36) and skipper Sunil Ambris (59) was ended when Odean Smith sent back the former.

Redwood, Barnes, and Smith then accounted for the respective wickets of Shadrack Descarte (three), Johnnel Eugene (zero), and wicketkeeper Dillon Douglas (23), to leave the Volcanoes teetering on 146 for six.

Just before Douglas was sent back, the vigil of the skipper ended, also courtesy of young Redwood.

Springer attempted to provide some rear-guard action for the Volcanoes with a better-than-run-a-ball 37, but there would be no further resistance as Mindley removed him and Darel Cyrus.

But, by that time, the game was well and truly over.