Johnson century undoes Scorpions’ hard work

THE JAMAICA Scorpions bowlers put in a decent day’s shift, however, Guyana Harpy Eagles captain Leon Johnson stole the show with an unbeaten century to lead his team to 268 for nine at stumps on day one of their West Indies Championship encounter at the Guyana National Stadium.

The 35-year-old Johnson, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, will resume today’s second day on 142 along with Nial Smith, who is yet to score. The left-hander came to the crease with the Harpy Eagles in trouble at 26 for three after they were asked to take first strike.

Seamer Marquino Mindley had removed Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul for nought then had opener Matthew Nandu caught behind for one before Ojay Shields trapped Kamol Savory for the same score.

Johnson then got stuck in with Kevlon Anderson, and the pair started the repair job, taking the score to 55 before Anderson, on the stroke of lunch, went caught in the slip off Derval Green for 36.

Following the interval, Johnson then found another useful partner in Tevin Imlack, and the pair virtually took the honours away from the Scorpions, adding 126 runs for the fifth wicket.

Imlach was eyeing a half-century but went caught behind off Derval Green for 46 after facing 105 balls and hitting three fours.

The Scorpions would then snare a few more late-order scalps to bring some respectability to their bowling efforts.

Johnson has, so far, faced 248 balls and has hit 16 fours in his seventh first-class hundred.

Mindley, Shields, and Green took two wickets each while leg spinner Abhijai Mansingh, Nicholson Gordon, and captain Jermaine Blackwood picked up the other wickets.

Over at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes will resume today’s second day on 271 for six against the Windward Island Volcanoes.

Right-hander Karima Gore will resume on 87, with Kofi James not out on 61. Earlier, opener Kiran Powell hit 75 against two wickets for Preston McSween and Kenneth Dember.

At the Queen’s Park Oval, the Barbados Pride will resume on 40 without loss, replying to Trinidad & Tobago Red Force’s first-innings total of 203. Off-spinner Chaim Holder bagged five wickets for 71 runs and pacer Jair McCallister took three wickets in restricting the Red Force. Jason Mohammed top-scored for the Red Force with 55, and Tion Webster got 46.