Struggling Scorpions lose again

The Jamaica Scorpions suffered the ignominy of being soundly beaten in their first three games in the Cricket West Indies Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day competition after the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force completed the formalities to come away with a 157-run win on yesterday's final day at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Resuming on 108 for 5, and needing a further 217 to win, the Scorpions were not expected to put up much resistance. The lower half of the batting folded meekly, as expected, with the last five wickets falling in less than an hour and a half. The Scorpions could only manage 167. Leg spinner Imran Khan ended with 5 for 59, while Khary Pierre claimed 3 for 29. Assad Fudadin was left unbeaten on 35.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Scorpions captain Paul Palmer Jr was critical of his batsmen. "It was a poor performance from our batters," he said. "Going forward, we just have to find a way to stay at the crease. It can't be about scoring boundaries only."

Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin was elated with the win.

"Winning cricket games is always good," he said. "When you go out there and are not getting results, you look for these little things to pull together, and we got it right in this game."

The Scorpions depart the island today for St George's, Grenada, where they play the Windward Islands Volcanoes, starting Thursday.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE 1st Innings 203

SCORPIONS 1st Innings 112

RED FORCE 2nd Innings

(overnight 62 for two)

K Hope c Thomas b Miller 20

J Solozano b Miller 13

D Bravo c Palmer b O Thomas 38

K Pierre c wkpr A Thomas b Leveridge 46

J Mohammed b Miller 14

D Ramdin c (sub) Levy b Miller 25

Y Cariah c wkpr A Thomas b Leveridge 10

I Khan c Palmer b Miller 23

O Smith b Miller 25

D St Clair c K Williams b Miller 0

A Phillip not out 6

Extras (b1,lb11, nb1) 13

TOTAL (all out, 92.4 overs) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-59, 3-92, 4-114, 5-162, 6-176, 7-179, 8-224, 9-224

Bowling: Thomas 15-4-33-1 (nb1); Leveridge 19-9-27-2; Miller 32.4-6-87-7;K Williams 21-5-59-0; McCarthy 5-1-15-0

SCORPIONS 2nd Innings (target: 325)

C Walton st Ramdin b Pierre 26

O Williams c wkpr Ramdin b Pierre 56

A McCarthy c Mohammed b Khan 1

A Fudadin not out 6

*P Palmer lbw b St Clair 8

K Williams b St Clair 0

R Powell not out 2

Extras (b1, lb5, nb3) 9

TOTAL (5 wkts, 37 overs) 108

Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-90, 3-90, 4-104, 5-104

Bowling: Phillip 3-1-18-0; St Clair 6-1-12-2 (nb2); Smith 3-0-28-0 (nb1); Pierre 9-4-16-2; Khan 13-5-26-1; Mohammed 3-1-2-0

Position: Scorpions need 217 more for victory with five second innings wickets standing

Umpires: C Taylor, D Butler

Match referee: D Hayles

Reserve umpire: C Wright