Spinners shine but Scorpions in trouble at Sabina

Jamaica Scorpions off-spinners Peat Salmon and Ramaal Lewis took nine wickets on the day, but the team’s batters are facing a daunting task after day two of their West Indies Championship match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Sabina Park.

The home side will resume on 59 for four in their second innings after the Scorpions had posted 221 all out and then dismissed the Hurricanes for 231. The home team has a lead of 49 runs with two full days to play.

After being six wickets down for 173 runs overnight, the Jamaicans added another 48 runs with opener Carlos Brown going on to top score with 80 after resuming on 68. All-rounder Derval Green was left not out on 20 as Jeremiah Louis and Rahkeem Cornwall took three wickets each.

The Leeward Islands response began shakily after Derval Green bowled opener Mikyle Louis with the second delivery of the innings for nought, but opener Kieran Powell and Kacy Carty steadied things with a 71-run second wicket stand.

With the wicket now assisting the spinners, first Lewis and then Salmon came to the party as they spun a web around the Hurricanes’ batters.

Lewis removed Powell for 41 and then Carty for 53 to leave the visitors on 115 for three.

Salmon then got in on the act as he sent back the next four batters, and the Scorpions held a tight grip on the Leewards innings.

Justin Greaves with a top score of 62, which included two fours and two sixes, ensured that the visitors overhauled the hosts’ first-innings total, and he was the last wicket to fall to Lewis as the innings ended on 231.

Salmon took five wickets for 50 runs while Lewis, playing in his first game, snared four for 80.

Facing a 10-run deficit, the Scorpion’s reply began disastrously, with opener Brown going in the first over for nought to dangerman Louis.

Jermaine Blackwood’s batting woes continued as he hit one four and then swiped at Louis the next ball to be bowled for five at 11 for two.

One run later, Leroy Lugg fell to Cornwall, but captain Brandon King and opener Kirk McKenzie took the score to 54 before King was bowled by Oshane Thomas for 19.

Nightwatchman Peat Salmon on two and McKenzie on 24 will resume on today’s third day, with Scorpions looking to add to their lead.

Summarised scores from other matches at the close on the second day in the fifth round of the West Indies Championship:

At Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua: Guyana Harpy Eagles lead Windward Islands Volcanoes by 363 with nine seconds innings wickets standing.

Harpy Eagles 308 all out and 168 for one (Tevin Imlach 88 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 78 not out).

Volcanoes 113 all out (Tevyn Walcott 41; Isai Thorne 4-38).

At Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force trail Barbados Pride by seven runs with seven second innings wickets standing.

Red Force 172 all out (Amir Jangoo 93 not out; Jason Holder 4-47) and 100 for three (Amir Jangoo 30 not out; Jomel Warrican 2-19).

Pride 279 all out (Jonathan Drakes 72; Khary Pierre 3-54).

At Frank Worrell Field in Trinidad: Cricket West Indies Academy lead Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners by 113 with nine second innings wickets standing.

CWI Academy 300 all out (Carlos Bowen-Tuckett 76 not out; Yannick Ottley 22.3-8-47-5) and 44 for one.

Marooners 231 all out (Demario Richards 59, Zishan Motara 56; Joshua Bishop 2-44).