Richardson praises Mansingh character after Scorpions draw

ALL-ROUNDER ABHIJAI Mansingh had a debut to remember, as the right-hander put in a workmanlike performance with both bat and ball to help the Jamaica Scorpions hold on for a draw against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their opening-round West Indies Championship match which ended at the Coolidge Cricket Ground yesterday.

In fading light with a crowd of fielders around their bat, Mansingh and last man Patrick Harty Jr resisted the penetrative and probing Hurricanes bowling in the last session of play, which ended when late evening showers in fading light sent the players off the field with Jamaica 200 for nine, chasing 268 to win.

Melbourne CC player, Mansingh, once again displayed his temperament by top scoring with 62 not out from 209 balls, with eight fours and a six.

The right-hander shared in five partnerships batting at number six, and, in one of those partnerships, he added a valuable 92 runs with Jamie Merchant for the sixth wicket, with the former chipping in with 47 from 56 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Once again, it was Rahkeem Cornwall who was the main destroyer, grabbing another five-wicket haul to finish with 10 in the match.

The burly off-spinner picked up the wickets of Romaine Morrison for 22, captain Paul Palmer for six, Merchant for 47, Akim Fraser for one, and Gordon Bryan for nought, to finish with five for 41 and 10 for 95 in the match.

Earlier, it was Cornwall who also spruced up the Hurricanes’ second-innings score, as his 85 from 95 balls helped the host to 241 after resuming the final day on 198 for seven.

Hayden Walsh Jr chipped in with 23 against four wickets for 43 runs from off-spinner Merchant and two wickets each for Harty and Mansingh.

TOUGH AND HARD-FOUGHT

Scorpions coach Andrew Richardson lamented what was a keenly contested opening fixture for the teams.

“It was a tough and hard-fought four days of cricket by both teams. Rahkeem Cornwall was outstanding for the Hurricanes and Abhijai Mansingh came in and showed character,” said Richardson.

Meanwhile, Pacer Nial Smith, bagged five second-innings wickets to lead the Guyana Harpy Eagles to a 183-run win over the Barbados Pride in their match at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.