Scorpions sting CCC in Super50 win

The Jamaica Scorpions secured their first win in three attempts in the Regional Super50 Cup following a 97-run win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in Basseterre, St Kitts.

The Jamaica Scorpions batsmen were asked to bat better by the coaching staff, and that they did against the CCC, posting their second-highest Super50 total of 330 for eight in 50 overs.

That total was built thanks largely to another stellar batting display from opener Assad Fudadin, who followed up his 107 against the Leewards Island to score 92, which included 11 fours and a six from 121 balls.

The left-handed opener got the Scorpions off to the best possible start as he and wicketkeeper/batsman Aldane Thomas put on 101 runs for the first wicket in the 20th over before Thomas was bowled by Akshaya Persaud for 48.

After sharing in a 53-run third-wicket stand with Andre McCarthy, Fudadin looked in touch for his second consecutive hundred. However, he was adjudged leg before wicket (lbw) to Persaud with the Scorpions 191 for three in the 34th over.

Skipper Rovman Powell, who had two failing scores before this match, then joined McCarthy, and the pair continued the onslaught on the CCC bowlers as they put on another century partnership of 114.

Powell was looking to press on with just five overs remaining in the innings, and he held out to Carlos Brathwaite off Akeem Jordan for 57.

All this time, McCarthy was inching closer to his century; however, he was the sixth wicket to fall for 91, with the Scorpions 317 for six in the 48th over.

The Scorpions would add a few more runs for the loss of two wickets as Akeem Jordan ended with 3 for 72 from his 10 overs, Persaud finishing with two for 66 from his 10.

In reply, the CCC made a sensational start in their run chase as the Jamaican pair of wicketkeeper Romaine Morrison and Paul Palmer put on another century-opening stand as the Scorpion bowlers continue to find it difficult to pick up wickets.

Bonner’s BREAKTHROUGH

It took another introduction of part-time bowler Nkrumah Bonner to get the breakthrough as he trapped Palmer lbw for 30 with the score on 119 in the 23rd over.

Morrison also took a liking to the surface and was on track for the first century of the match; however, on 96, he was outfoxed by Dennis Bulli and was caught by Fudadin to leave the CCC at 148 for 2 in the 28th over.

That wicket pretty much began the slide for the students, and with the run rate climbing with every ball, the pressure would tell on the CCC batsman, who came and went with regularity.

They would eventually get to 233 for nine, batting one short in the 43rd over, with Pacer Oshane Thomas leading the way with three for 25 from 8.2 overs. Bulli claimed three for 44 from his 10. Derval Green picked up two late-order wickets in the win.