Samuels: Scorpions all but out of title race
Published:Tuesday | April 4, 2017 | 5:27 PMJermaine Lannaman
Jamaica Scorpions head coach, Robert Samuels, has all but conceded the Digicel WICB Regional Four-day Tournament title.
Now in third position on 95.2 points, Jamaica face a must-win situation in the last two rounds of the six-team championship.
They must also hope that the teams in front of them, leaders Guyana Jaguars on 109.8 points, and Barbados Pride 99.2, get unfavourable results in their remaining matches.
Twelve points are awarded for a win and three for a draw, while also on offer during a contest are first innings batting and bowling points, as well as fast bowling points.
DIVINE INTERVENTION NEEDED
"Due to our two home losses at the start of the return-leg matches, we have to now depend on divine intervention and other teams if we are going to win this competition," said Samuels, prior to the Scorpions' departure yesterday for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
"And, when you are depending on so many variables, usually, it does not work out like that," he declared.
Jamaica, who led the championship after the five rounds have since played three games. This has resulted in two defeats and a victory.
The win, which was spearheaded by yet another Man-of-the-Match bowling performance from captain Nikita Miller, was against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Queen's Park Oval. The Scorpions will face the Windward Island Volcanoes and Barbados Pride in the remaining matches.
"We have to play good cricket in St Vincent against the Windwards and then versus Barbados," Samuels stressed.
"We can't do anything about Guyana as they are at home and are very hard to beat at home. But we can do something about the Windward Islands and about Barbados."
Meanwhile, three changes were made to the squad for the away fixtures. Batsman Andre McCarthy has been dropped while Brandon King is injured. Leg-spinner Damion Jacobs is unavailable.
Their spots have been taken by uncapped batsmen Oraine Williams and Peat Salmon as well as left-arm wrist spinner, Dennis Bulli, who has one first-class appearance.