Scorpions fall for 106 at Sabina Park

The return of West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood did little to help transform the fortunes of the Jamaica Scorpions batting on the first day of the CWI-Digicel Four-day Championship clash against Guyana Jaguars at Sabina Park yesterday.

Blackwood, playing in his first match of the season after recently returning from West Indies duties, made a joint topscore of 24 along with rookie wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas as the Scorpions, after being sent into bat, could only manage 106 in their first innings.

Three-times defending champions the Guyana Jaguars, leaders of the six-team tournament with three rounds of matches to go, reached 75 for three when stumps were drawn.

Blackwood, who has been struggling for form with the West Indies in recent times, batted at number three. However, after looking a bit out of sorts at the start of his innings, and being dropped on six, he could not find the rhythm needed to get a big score.

His dismissal, leg before wicket to left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, after facing 55 deliveries, left Jamaica on 63 for four, a position from which they failed to recover en route to posting their second lowest score of the season.

Opener John Campbell, bowled for one by recent West Indies Under-19 fast bowler Keemo Paul, promoted opener Assad Fudadin, caught behind for 11 off fast bowler Keon Joseph, and Brandon King, caught behind for 13 off West Indies left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer, all fell before the dismissal of Blackwood.

Meanwhile, the in-form Fabian Allen, stumped by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble for zero off seven deliveries, Paul Palmer, caught off the bowling of Reifer for seven, and all-rounder Derval Green, also caught by Bramble off the bowling of Reifer for zero, fell shortly, thereafter, to leave the score tottering at 69 for seven.

Thomas, playing in his third match of the season, then tried to stage a recovery with leg-spinner Damion Jacobs. However, after reaching 17 runs the partnership was broken when the latter was bowled by Paul for eight.

The 23-year-old Thomas, who made 49 on seasonal debut at Sabina Park a month ago, looked purposeful and ran between the wickets well. He hit three fours in his 47-ball knock.

Teenager Paul, playing in his 11th first-class fixture, finished with three for 15, while Reifer, who has been on tours to England, Zimbabwe and New Zealand with the West Indies claimed three for 21.

Permaul, the tournament's leading wicket taker, with two for 25, was next best.

Play is scheduled to resume today at 10 a.m.

 

SCOREBOARD

 

SCORPIONS 1st Innings

J. Campbell b Paul 1

A. Fudadin c wkp Bramble b Joseph 11

J. Blackwood lbw b Permaul 24

B. King c wk Bramble b Reifer 13

P. Palmer c Paul b Reifer 7

F. Allen st Bramble b Permaul 0

+A. Thomas not out 24

D. Green c wkp Bramble b Reifer 0

D. Jacobs b Paul 8

*N. Miller c wkp Bramble b Paul 2

R. Leveridge run out 0

Extras (b5, nb11) 16

Total (all out, 36.2 overs) 106

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-31, 3-58, 4-63, 5-67, 6-69, 7-69, 8-86, 9-90, 10-106.

Bowling: Paul 8.2-3-15-3, Joseph 8-2-39-1, Permaul 10-3-25-2, Reifer 9-2-21-3, Persaud 1-0-1-0.

JAGUARS 1st Innings

C. Hemraj c Green b Miller 47

A. Persaud lbw b Leveridge 0

*L. Johnson c Palmer b Green 13

V. Singh not out 10

S. Chanderpaul not out 3

Extras (b1, lb1) 2

Total (3 wkts, 22 overs) 75

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-57, 3-63.

To bat: +A Bramble, R Reifer, K Paul, G Motie, V Permaul, K Joseph.

Bowling: Green 6-1-24-1, Leveridge 7-1-22-1, Blackwood 2-0-8-0, Miller 6-2-16-1, Campbell 1-0-3-0.

Position: Jaguars trail by 31 runs with seven wickets intact.

Toss: Jaguars.

Umpires: J Williams, J Blades.