Injury-hit Scorpions struggle in T&T

It was a tough first day in the field for new captain John Campbell and his Jamaica Scorpions as the visitors were only able to claim three wickets against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, who batted throughout the opening day of their First Round West Indies Four Day Championship match to reach 241 at stumps at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The Scorpions handed a debut to left-arm spinner Patrick Harty Jr, while the Red Force did so with batsman Keagan Simmons, as the hosts made good use of winning the toss on a flat and placid surface, despite Derval Green picking up the early wicket of Kyle Hope, lbw for 9, with just 13 runs on the board in the eighth over.

However, it would be another 45 overs before the Jamaicans would get another wicket, as the left-handed pair of Jeremy Solozano and debutant Simmonds batted with maturity to share in a 135-run second-wicket partnership.

SHOULDER INJURY

The Jamaicans had to call on their part-time bowlers early, as their main spinner, Dennis Bulli, could only manage to get in six overs in the day as he aggravated a shoulder injury. Medium-pacer Alwayne Williams also injured himself while fielding and so he was limited to only five overs.

In the meantime, Solozano batted patiently to bring up his seventh first-class half-century, which included 10 fours. However, his 163-ball vigil ended with him on 73, when he was bowled by the part-time off spin of captain Campbell with the score on 148.

That brought captain Daren Bravo to the crease, and he and Simmons continued to score freely, as they put on 66 runs for the third wicket.

Young Simmonds also hit 10 fours during his 218-ball knock to bring up his first first-class half-century. The nephew of West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons looked intent on getting to three figures. However, he edged Rovman Powell to Aldane Thomas for 89 to leave the home team at 214 for 3.

Captain Bravo (50) and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva (14) saw the hosts to stumps without any further loss, as the Red Force closed at 241 for 3.

Coach André Coley believed his bowlers did well on the opening day despite the setbacks.

“We had to go to our part-timers early, as our main spinner Dennis Bulli could only bowl six overs after aggravating his shoulder injury. We also could not use Alwayne Williams throughout the innings, but I believe Derval (Green), Marquino (Mindley), Rovman (Powell) and the rest of the guys did well to peg back the Trinidadians in the day,” Coley told The Gleaner.

Play continues today with Day Two action beginning at 9 a.m. Jamaica time.