Steep task for Scorpions

PROVIDENCE, Guyana, (CMC):

A maiden first-class hundred from Keemo Paul and a couple of early wickets put reigning champions Guyana Jaguars firmly on course for a seventh straight victory over Jamaica Scorpions in the Regional 4-Day Championship yesterday.

Paul, a member of the 2016 West Indies Under-19 side that won the ICC Youth World Cup, hit 107 to drive the Jaguars to 315 for eight declared in their second innings on the third day of their first-round match at the Guyana National Stadium.

Scorpions, chasing 483 for victory, reached 61 for two at the close with Guyana-born left-hander Assad Fudadin not out on 11 and the highly-touted Brandon King not out on 12.

Scorpions made a steady start to their chase, but lost their openers Garth Garvey and the Guyana-born Trevon Griffith in the space of six deliveries of each other, leaving the visitors on 25 for two.

King came to the crease, and with Fudadin, batted through more than 20 overs to the close, extending the game into today's final day.

Earlier, Paul struck 12 fours and four sixes from 129 balls and shared successive half-century stands with his captain Leon Johnson and all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford in the face of a steady bowling from the Scorpions led by Denni Bulli with 5-104 from 22 overs.

Johnson made a flat 50 and put on 72 for the seventh wicket with Paul before he was caught behind of Derval Green to leave the Jaguars 229 for seven.

Paul added a further 68 - unbroken - for the eighth wicket Rutherford, not out on 16, before Bulli bowled him a few overs before the declaration.

AT GRENADA NATIONAL STADIUM: Windward Islands Volcanoes reached 93 for one in their second innings - still trailing by 13 - at the close on the third day.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 232 (Roland Cato 90, Kavem Hodge 41; Jeremiah Louis 4-35, Mervyn Matthew 3-20) and 93 for one (Devon Smith 56 not out, Kirk Edwards 35 not out).

Leeward Islands Hurricanes 338 (Chesney Hughes 89, Keacy Carty 72, Nkrumah Bonner 69; Sherman Lewis 3-50, Audy Alexander 3-67).

AT KENSINGTON OVAL: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force reached 31 without loss in their second innings - a lead of 21 - at the close on the third day.

Scores: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 300 (Denesh Ramdin 101, Ewart Nicholson 74, Jeremy Solozano 54; Jomel Warrican 4-67, Justin Greaves 4-67, Kevin Stoute 2-27) and 31 without loss.

Barbados Pride 310 for nine declared (Jonathan Carter 85, Anthony Alleyne 84; Imran Khan 3-68, Daniel St. Clair 2-51, Bryan Charles 2-63).