Scorpions feel heat as Volcanoes secure win

The Jamaica Scorpions suffered their third loss of the West Indies Championships after going down by two wickets to the Windward Islands Volcanoes following an enterprising final day’s play at the Grenada National Stadium yesterday.

The Volcanoes successfully chased down the 225 runs needed for victory, thanks to half-century knocks from André Fletcher and Sunil Ambris, who set up the remarkable comeback win for the hosts.

After resuming the final day on 51 for 3, still needing 174 runs to win, the Volcanoes’ overnight pair of Fletcher and Ambris progressed nicely from their overnight eight and two runs, respectively.

The pair meticulously chipped away at the target after the Scorpions captain, John Campbell, bizarrely went on the defensive from the outset.

They added a vital 105 runs for the fourth wicket before Ambris chipped pacer Marquino Mindley to Campbell at short mid-wicket for 56. The West Indies player had faced 77 balls and hit seven fours for his 14th first-class half-century.

With the score on 149 for 4, wicketkeeper Emmanuel Stewart then joined Fletcher, and they continued to show positive intent, adding another crucial 31 runs before the Scorpions claimed the fifth scalp of the Volcanoes’ innings.

The same combination of Mindley and Campbell accounted for the innings top-scorer, Fletcher, who fell for a valiant 71 from 141 balls with 10 fours.

His 22nd first-class 50 virtually set up the victory for the hosts, who needed just 45 runs to win with five wickets in hand and plenty of time to get them.

The diminutive Stewart and number seven batsman Keron Cottoy continued to frustrate the Scorpions with another 30-plus runs partnership, which all but knocked the stuffing out of the visitors.

Off-spinner Merchant would, however, get a vital breakthrough when he had Stewart caught by Oraine Williams for 22 at 214 for six.

After Patrick Harty Jr removed Ryan John for nought, the nerves in the Windwards camp would get more and more intense when Cottoy was run out for 24 to leave the Volcanoes in trouble at 218 for eight.

Tail-enders Kenneth Dember (3) and Sherman Lewis (2) would eventually stave off the nerves and get the remaining runs to give the Volcanoes a morale-boosting win on home soil.

Scores in the match. Jamaica Scorpions 318 & 60, Windward Volcanoes 217 & 225 for eight.