Scorpions, Volcanoes locked in even contest

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

A four-wicket haul by Larry Edwards helped the Windward Islands Volcanoes secure a slim 13-run first innings lead, but a strong bowling effort by the Jamaica Scorpions ensured that honours were shared at the end of the penultimate day of their Regional Four-Day match at the Grenada National Stadium here yesterday.

Edwards grabbed four wickets for 79 runs to help earn the Volcanoes an unlikely first-innings lead, but Dennis Bulli hit back by grabbing four wickets to help keep the game in the balance.

Chadwick Walton's fifth first class century had looked to be enough to help the Scorpions overtake the Volcanoes' first-innings total of 285.

Surprisingly, though, the Scorpions fell just short, with Edwards accounting for the final four wickets to fall.

Walton had resumed on 113 but added just 12 runs to his overnight total before being adjudged leg before wicket to Kavem Hodge.

Kenroy Williams, too, became a victim of Hodge to be out for 21 as the Scorpions slipped to 231 for six.

Edwards then struck to remove Aldaine Thomas for six, Bulli for 15, Jerome Taylor for a two-ball duck, and finally, Derval Green for 24 to wrap up the innings.

CRUCIAL SCALPS

After Derval Green and Jerome Taylor struck in quick succession to dismiss Taryck Gabriel and Tyrone Theophile, respectively, to reduce the Volcanoes to 37 for two, Bulli claimed two crucial scalps.

First, he had Devon Smith stumped for 47 and then had captain Kirk Edwards leg before wicket for 21.

It required a 58-run stand between Hodge and Alick Athanaze to rescue their side from trouble, with the two carrying the score up to 147 before Athanaze was bowled by Kenroy Williams for a well played 27.

Bulli was back in the thick of things soon after, accounting for the wickets of Dennis Smith and Hodge, who scored 52 from 75 balls, laced with seven boundaries and one six.

It allowed the Scorpions to restrict the Volcanoes to 198 for nine, an overall lead of 211, and a chance of victory heading into today's final day.