McCarthy, Jacobs help Scorpions maul Americas
ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad (CMC) – Andre McCarthy struck his maiden regional one-day hundred and leg-spinner Damien Jacobs claimed a five-wicket haul as Jamaica Scorpions rebounded from their opening round loss to crush ICC Americas by 184 runs here Saturday.
Playing at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground at the UWI Sport & Physical Education Centre, Scorpions piled up 260 for eight off their 50 overs with the 28-year-old McCarthy hammering 118 from 119 deliveries.
The only other frontline batsman to make it past 20, however, was former captain Tamar Lambert with 28 while Sheldon Cottrell chipped in with a cameo 29 batting at number seven.
Fast-bowler Jeremy Gordon was the best bowler with three for 32 while Muhammad Khan claimed two for 63.
In their turn at the crease, the Americas never posed a serious challenge and slumped to 76 all out off 26.4 overs.
Nitish Kumar top-scored with 42 but was the only batsman to pass 15 and only one of two to reach double figures, as Jacobs destroyed the innings with five for 22.
Fast-bowler Nicholas Gordon picked up two for 17.
The victory was a welcome boost for Scorpions following their disappointing defeat to title-holders Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Thursday while ICC Americas slid to their second straight defeat, on the heels of their opening round loss to Barbados Pride.
The right-handed McCarthy held the Scorpions innings together after it threatened to stall at 61 for three in the 16th over when they lost captain John Campbell (3), fellow opener Trevon Griffith (15) and Devon Thomas (19) cheaply.
He counted 11 fours and four sixes and shared a 105-run fourth-wicket stand with Lambert whose 28 came from 51 balls and included two fours.
McCarthy added a further 49 for the sixth wicket with Aldaine Thomas (15) before he was seventh out via the run-out route.
In reply, ICC Americas lost captain Ruvindu Gunasekara to the first ball of the innings but climbed back into the contest through a 42-run stand between Kumar and Steven Taylor (12).
Once the stand was broken, however, the last nine Americas wicket tumbled for 34 runs as Jacobs scythed through the innings.
