Jamaica Scorpions once more fell down with the bat, while Barbados Pride’s pacer Justin Greaves and opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite gave the visitors the upper hand on yesterday’s opening day of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) match against Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park.

At the close, Barbados Pride, with seven wickets in hand, were 74 runs shy of the Scorpions’ mediocre first-innings total of 177.

Scores: Scorpions 177 (52.3 overs); Pride 103-3 (37 overs).

Greaves, the 21-year-old seam bowler, took a maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket of 5-41 to help uproot the Scorpions on a pitch that — though producing some sideways movement for the quicker bowlers — appeared good for batting.

Brathwaite, the Pride’s captain, ended the day on 66 not out in his side’s 103-3.

John Campbell, the Scorpions skipper, said “advantage is with Barbados Pride” after his team fell short of the original plan of “batting out the day”.

He added that getting the wicket of Brathwaite early after play starts today will be crucial.

“We definitely want to pick up early wickets. I think if we can come out and get the early wickets they’ll be under some pressure. He (Brathwaite) is batting well, so his wicket will be key,” said Campbell.

Barbados Pride Head Coach Henderson Springer accepted that his team holds the advantage, but he stressed that there is still work to be done.

“It’s a decent day’s work and both teams competed. Justin Greaves took up five wickets and (Scorpions’ bowler) Nikita Miller, on the other side, is bowling very well. It should be very interesting tomorrow. Yeah [Pride have the advantage], but cricket is a funny game and you can get changes in momentum,” the Pride coach told the

Jamaica Observer.

“We need to settle in and bat properly, because this is a situation where if we bat well enough, we may need to bat only once and put the pressure on the opposition,” Springer noted.

Earlier, Jamaica Scorpions won the toss and opted to take first strike. Struggling with the bat all season, they again found themselves in a decent position before collapsing in a tremendous heap.

The left-hander Campbell (four) and Kirk Edwards (four) fell cheaply to the opening pace-bowling pair of Miguel Cummins and Greaves, respectively.

A third-wicket stand of 52 runs then ensued between opening batsman Shacaya Thomas and Andre McCarthy to lift the Scorpions. But it was 93-3 when Shacaya Thomas edged a catch to wicketkeeper Dowrich off the bowling of leg-spinner Roston Chase.

His knock of 50, which came off 76 balls, comprised seven fours and one six.

McCarthy and Brandon King (19) added 42 for the fourth wicket before the latter was dismissed by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican at 135-4.

The in-form McCarthy, the Scorpions’ only century-maker this season, struck half dozen boundaries and a lone six in his 52 off 82 deliveries.

Greaves, who though not express quick, got swing in the air and movement off the pitch, in addition to neat line and length, to rattle the Scorpions in only his third regional four-day match.

After they folded with the bat, they began poorly with the ball as seamers Jason Dawes, Nicholson Gordon and Devon Thomas bowled too many short and wide deliveries.

It took left-arm finger spinner Miller, who has a tournament high of 51 wickets this season, to peg back the Pride.

He bowled Omar Phillips (11) when the left-hand opener played no shot to the ball turning into him with the score at 46-1.

Jonathan Carter, another left-hander, was trapped leg before wicket by Miller for six.

The usually stylish Shamarh Brooks (three) went for an uncharacteristically wild shot over wide long on and was bowled by the wily Miller with the score at 71-3.

The prolific 23-year-old Brathwaite, who mixed compact defence with some attacking shots, particularly on the offside backward of point, hit 11 fours in his 66 off 119 balls. His partner Roston Chase is unbeaten on nine.