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Red Force in control as Scorpions struggle

Published:Sunday | January 12, 2020 | 12:26 AMLennox Aldred - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Powell
Powell

The Jamaica Scorpions face a daunting task if they are to get a positive result from their match against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, following day three action in their first round West Indies Regional Four Day Championship at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

At stumps, the Scorpions, asked to follow on, were 86 for 1 in their second innings, still trailing by 96, this after they were dismissed for 278 in reply to the Red Force’s first innings score of 460 for 4 declared.

Opener Assad Fudadin has so far faced 77 balls for his unbeaten 32, while Jermaine Blackwood has batted 68 balls to be not out on 17.

Captain John Campbell made 28 as he went caught and bowled by Brian Charles.

Earlier, the Scorpions, who resumed the day on 94 for 3, were dismissed in their first innings for 278, thanks largely to half-centuries from Rovman Powell, who made 71, Derval Green, 56 and Paul Palmer Jr 50.

Palmer and Powell put on a 90-run fourth-wicket partnership. However, the former, who batted for 111 balls and hit seven fours for his seventh first-class half-century, cut Odean Smith to Brian Charles with the score on 143.

Positive Powell

Powell continued to bat positively for his first, first-class half-century and he and wicketkeeper Aldane Thomas added another 59 runs before Powell went lbw for 71 off 92 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes.

When Aldane Thomas fell for a well-played 35, the Scorpions were in a spot of bother at 209 for 6, but lower-order batsman Derval Green found a useful partner in Marquino Mindley and they added 45 runs for the eighth wicket to inch the Scorpions closer to the Red Force’s mammoth total.

When Green fell for 56 from 92 balls, the Scorpions were under the sword at 278 for 9, and it was only a matter of time before the innings was wrapped up.

Spinners Akeal Hosein and Brian Charles bagged four and three wickets, respectively, as the Scorpions were asked to follow on being 182 runs adrift.