Blackwood, Thomas lead Scorpions fight

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC):

Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood struck a half-century to prop up Jamaica Scorpions after they suffered a batting slump to leave Guyana Jaguars in command of their final round Regional four-day championship game here yesterday.

Replying to the hosts' 420 all out, Scorpions finished the second day at the National Stadium here on 171 for five - still 249 runs adrift.

Blackwood, batting at number three, top-scored with 62 while Devon Thomas stroked an unbeaten 40 and Shacaya Thomas, 32.

Scorpions were cruising at 70 for one before losing four wickets for 50 runs to crash to 120 for five, with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie claiming three of the wickets to fall to finish with three for 33.

Thomas, who hit a hundred in the last round, has so far put on 51 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas, who was unbeaten on 21.

The Antiguan Thomas has faced 70 balls and cracked five fours and a six.

Earlier, captain Leon Johnson missed out on his third hundred of the season but became the first batsman to pass 800 runs, when he made 93.

Starting the day unbeaten on 58 with Jaguars on 297 for four, the left-hander faced 185 balls in just under 41/2 hours all told, and struck six fours and a six.

AT NATIONAL CRICKET CENTRE: Hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, trailing Windward Islands Volcanoes by 78 runs on first innings, were 33 for one in their second innings.

Scores: RED FORCE 211 (Narsingh Deonarine 91 not out, Imran Khan 39, Larry Edwards 4-77, Kyle Mayers 3-37) and 33 for one.

VOLCANOES 289 (Devon Smith 127, Tyrone Theophile 75; Imran Khan 4-93, Rayad Emrit 3-59).

AT WARNER PARK: Leeward Islands Hurricanes, trailing Barbados Pride by 317 on first innings, reached 18 for one at the close.

Scores: HURRICANES 119 all out (Jahmar Hamilton 42, Kieran Powell 33; Jomel Warrican 3-33, Kemar Roach 2-21) and 18 for one.

PRIDE 436 (Shane Dowrich 96, Roston Chase 62, Kemar Roach 53, Omar Phillips 42, Kevin Stoute 42; Rahkeem Cornwall 5-155).