Coach Coley slams batsmen after Scorpions loss

Jamaica Scorpions head coach Andre Coley says his team’s lack of patience and discipline at the crease cost them the game as they went down by 119 runs to Barbados Pride on day three of their third-round West Indies Championship match at Sabina Park.

Chasing a victory target of 288, the Scorpions were dismissed for 168 in their second innings thanks to six-wicket haul from pacer Chemar Holder to follow up his five wickets in the first innings. Nkrumah Bonner fought valiantly with a spirited unbeaten knock of 39 in the losing cause.

It was the first loss for the Scorpions this season following two draws, and Coley, while disappointed, says there is much work to be done with seven more games remaining.

“It was a disappointing performance from our batters who were unfocused and lacked responsibility. The pitch wasn’t an easy one to bat on, but we didn’t show the patience required to score runs on this pitch and we have to go back to the basics and fix things,” said Coley.

While the batting didn’t click, the former Windward Islands coach said he was pleased with his bowling unit, who finally showed the discipline and consistency he was asking for.

“I am very pleased in the way we bowled, we dismissed Barbados twice for their two lowest totals this season and credit must go out to Nicholson Gordon and the rest of the bowling unit who came up big.”

Earlier, The Barbados Pride, who resumed on 179 for six in their second innings, were dismissed for 206 thanks to pacer Nicholson Gordon, who bagged six for 45, and Patrick Harty Jr, three for 33.

Set 288 to win, the Scorpions made a meal of the run chase with half the side back in the pavilion with just 58 runs on the board.

Except for Brandon King who fell for 19, all the other batsmen were undone by some wonderful execution of fast bowling by Holder, Roach and Keon Harding who utilised the slow surface to extract lateral movement and bounce.

MEANINGFUL RESISTANCE

Only Nkrumah Bonner with a 103-ball unbeaten knock of 39 put up any meaningful resistance as the Scorpions folded for 168 in the mid-afternoon session.

Holder, who claimed 11 wickets in the match, praised his efforts on the slow surface.

“I know the Jamaicans were going to come hard and I, basically, just stayed patient and put the ball in the right areas and it was a matter of time before success would come,” said Holder.

The teams will now take a break before round four action gets under way February 6-9.

Final scores: Barbados Pride 219 (Shayne Moseley, 64; Kyle Mayers, 53; Kraigg Brathwaite, 25; Marquino Mindley, 4-31; Rovman Powell, 3-65) and 206 (Shane Dowrich, 73; Kyle Mayers, 53; Nicholson Gordon, 6-45; Patrick Harty, 2-33).

Jamaica Scorpions 138 (Denis Smith, 35; John Campbell, 26; Derval Green, 25; Chemar Holder, 5-45; Kemar Harding, 2-29; Kemar Roach, 2-37) and 168 (Nkrumah Bonner, 39 not out; Denis Smith, 26; Chemar Holder, 6-47; Kemar Roach, 2-26).