Scorpions look to leapfrog Pride

The Jamaica Scorpions will be look to leapfrog leaders Barbados Pride atop the standings in the Digicel WICB Regional Four-day Championship when the two meet at Sabina Park, starting today.

The Nikita Miller-led Scorpions, fresh off a narrow win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes last weekend, are fifth in the six-team championship but are just 3.4 points behind Barbados Pride.

Barbados lead with 24.4 points, with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes second on 24.2. Defending champions the Guyana Jaguars are third on 24 points with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force fourth on 22. The Scorpions are next with 21 points, while rounding off the standings are the Windwards, who, having notched up two losses, are on 20.6 points.

Starting this season, 0.2 of a point is awarded to teams for each wicket taken by a fast bowler.

"Barbados will come here the more confident team, but I am always confident in my bowling team, regardless of the surface and the opponents. The batting, that is my concern," Miller said ahead of the match.

"If we can correct that (weak batting) and give the bowling unit a chance to rest and think about how to attack our opponents, we will do well," he added.

Jamaica, who are yet to pass 250 runs to date, will enter the contest hoping for an improved batting display. The local selectors have looked to bolster that area by including former West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Fabian Allen in the squad.

The 21-year-old has come in to replace 19-year-old fast bowler Oshane Thomas.

With Thomas out, the squad is then left with only one specialist fast bowler in Reynard Leveridge. The West Indies A team player is set to lead the attack and should share the new ball with all-rounder Derval Green.

Allen, who also bowls spin is expected to provide back-up for Miller and leg-spinner Damion Jacobs, as well as add to the middle-order batting.

Barbados, meanwhile, have named an unchanged squad from their impressive 292 runs victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Port-of-Spain last weekend.

They will be led by West Indies Test players all-rounder Roston Chase, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, fast bowler Kemar Roach, and batsman, Sharmarh Brooks.

Jamaica Scorpions (from): Nikita Miller (captain), Fabian Allen, Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Derval Green, Trevon Griffith, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, Reynard Leveridge, AndrÈ McCarthy, Devon Thomas, Shacaya Thomas, Chadwick Walton

Barbados Pride (from): Kevin Stoute (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Nikolai Charles, Justin Greaves, Aaron Jones, Kevin McClean, Omar Phillips, Mario Rampersaud, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Kenroy Williams