EmBATtled - Scorpions carry over batting problems on Day One against Jaguars

Middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood achieved a personal milestone but the Jamaica Scorpions’ batting continues to struggle after day one action of their fourth-round Regional Four Day Championship match against hosts Guyana Jaguars at Providence.

The Jaguars, replying to the Scorpions’ first innings score of 187, were 17 without loss at stumps. Blackwood top-scored for the Scorpions with 81, which included his 3,000th Professional Cricket League run.

Earlier, the Scorpions won the toss and decided to bat. However, that decision backfired as the visitors lost two quick wickets. Local lad Assad Fudadin was the first to go, bowled by spinner Kevin Sinclair for three with just eight runs on the board.

The very next over, captain John Campbell was trapped in front by Raymon Reifer for five to leave the Scorpions in trouble at eight for two in the ninth over.

Blackwood then found a useful partner in Paul Palmer Jr, and the pair added a valuable 40-run partnership for the third wicket to take the Scorpions to lunch at 47 for two.

Immediately after the lunch break, Palmer lost his wicket as he was undone by a beauty from seamer Nial Smith for 15.

Nkrumah Bonner then joined Blackwood and the veteran pair put together the biggest partnership of the innings, 74 runs.

Bonner rode his luck to get to 29 as he was put down twice by opposing captain Leon Johnson.

But with the score on 122, Bonner could not pull his bat away from a Christopher Barnwell delivery and was caught behind.

All this time, Blackwood batted with maturity, bringing up his half-century off 122 balls, including six fours.

After sharing in a 42-run partnership with wicketkeeper Denis Smith, Blackwood would be the fifth wicket to fall as he played around one from Veerasammy Permaul for a top score of 81, which included 10 fours.

Permaul then wrapped up the innings, including picking up the wicket of debutant Pete Salmon for a duck, to claim four for 34 as the Scorpions lower order failed to add much resistance.

There were two wickets each for Smith and Barnwell for the Jaguars, who negotiated the remaining eight overs on the day to close on 17 without loss, still trailing by 170 runs. Chandrapaul Hemraj is unbeaten on 13, and with him his Tagenarine Chanderpaul on four.