We can’t afford another slip-up! – Miller - Scorpions looking to bounce back against Hurricanes

Jamaica Scorpions’ interim assistant coach, Nikita Miller, says the team cannot afford to slip up when they face the Leeward Island Hurricanes today in their group ‘A’ encounter at the Conaree Sports Club in Basseterre, St Kitts.

The Scorpions suffered a 75-run loss to the Barbados Pride in their opening encounter on Thursday and Miller, who spoke to The Sunday Gleaner ahead of the contest, made it clear that the team has to improve on their performance quickly if they are to progress in the tournament.

“Yes, it’s just the first game, but we had a discussion after Thursday’s game and we tried to be as frank as possible. We didn’t bat as well as we should have and we have to play better against the Leewards, you don’t want to fall behind in this competition because it is difficult to play catch-up cricket,” said Miller.

Miller had high praises for Man of the Match Andre McCarthy, who picked up four wickets with his part-time off-spin, and scored 95 from 83 balls with the bat.

“McCarthy’s performance has been an inspiration to the team and we have to raise our standards. Our batting has to come good because only two useful partnerships in a 50-over game are not good enough. We have to be clear with our plans and go out and execute,” added Miller.

Apart from McCarthy, only wicket-keeper Aldane Thomas with 41, Assad Fudadin, 10, and Jermaine Blackwood, 12, got into double figures.

Captain Rovman Powell, who was touted as one of the mainstay batters, made only one run from six balls, before he was bowled by Ashley Nurse.

McCarthy, while disappointed that he wasn’t able to take his team over the line, is aiming to continue in the same vein and hope that his performance will inspire the team this time to a win.

“I am happy that I got some runs, and, in any tournament, once you start good, you normally get momentum, so it’s now for me to just build on that and finish the tournament strong,” said McCarthy.

Another positive from the Scorpions performance in the opening match was the four-wicket haul from pacer Oshane Thomas. However, pacer Marquino Mindley, Derval Green and spinner Christopher Lamont went wicketless.

The match against the Leewards bowl off at 8 a.m. Jamaica time.