KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Devon Thomas fashioned his second first-class hundred, but his first in regional cricket, while left-arm spinner Nikita Miller then grabbed two wickets to inch towards 400 first-class wickets as Jamaica Scorpions dominated Windward Islands Volcanoes on the second day of their ninth-round contest here yesterday.

The right-handed Thomas, an Antiguan who captained Leeward Islands Hurricanes up to last season, stroked an enterprising 122 to guide his new side up to 445 all out in their first innings at the Arnos Vale Stadium.

Captain Paul Palmer struck a career-best 82 in a fabulous 178-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Thomas, which enabled Scorpions to build on their overnight 284 for five.

Left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson was the best bowler with four for 84, while off-spinner and Captain Liam Sebastien picked up three for 113, and leg-spinner Keron Cottoy two for 128.

In reply, Volcanoes were going strong at 138 for three, but lost two wickets late in the day to finish on 149 for five – still 296 runs behind going into day three.

Sunil Ambris top-scored with a breezy 50 off 77 balls with five fours and a six, rookie Jerlani Robinson chipped in with 31, while veteran opener Devon Smith struck 26.

The 33-year-old Miller, who has played one Test and 46 One Day Internationals, but has been overlooked by selectors for the last 12 months, knocked over Under-19 World Cup star Gidron Pope for 14 and then claimed Ambris to move to 398 first-class wickets.

Thomas owned the day, however, with a classy innings – only his second triple-figure score in seven years.

Resuming the day on 24 not out, he counted 13 fours and two sixes in a knock that spanned 166 deliveries and just over 3 1/2 hours.

Scorpions made it safely through the morning session without losing a wicket to be 388 for five at lunch, with Thomas on 90 and Palmer on 68.

On resumption, Thomas raised his hundred off 138 balls but lost Palmer soon afterward, beaten and bowled by Johnson after hitting eight fours off 184 deliveries in a shade over 3 1/4 hours at the crease.

Wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas was lbw to the very next delivery as Scorpions lost their last five wickets for only 30 runs.

Smith and Tyrone Theophile then added 43 for the first wicket before Volcanoes lost three wickets for 29 runs to slide to 72 for three.

However, Ambris and Robinson revived the innings with a 66-run, fourth-wicket stand which seemed to be hauling Volcanoes back into the contest.

The hosts had reached 138 for three when Robinson popped a catch to forward short leg off leg-spinner Damion Jacobs after he had faced 73 balls and struck four fours.

And with just eight runs added, Ambris fell to a catch at the wicket off Miller to leave Scorpions on top.

Scoreboard

SCORPIONS 1st Innings

(overnight 284 for five)

J Campbelll c wkp Ambris b Cottoy 135

S Thomas lbw b Mayers 14

K Edwards c Smith b Sebastien 23

A McCarthy c Smith b Sebastien 20

J Blackwood c Johnson b Cottoy 27

*P Palmer b Johnson 82

D Thomas c Hodge b Johnson 122

+A Thomas lbw b Johnson 0

D Jacobs c Mayers b Johnson 9

N Gordon c Hodge b Sebastien 2

N Miller not out 0

Extras (b2, lb6, w3) 11

TOTAL (all out, 134.4 overs) 445

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-111, 3-169, 4-222, 5-237, 6-415, 7-415, 8-429, 9-436, 10-445.

Bowling: Matthew 16-6-32-0, Johnson 22.4-2-84-4 (w2), Mayers 22-9-44-1 (w1), Sebastien 38-4-113-3, Cottoy 27-1-128-2, Hodge 1-0-12-0, Theophile 8-1-24-0.

VOLCANOES 1st Innings

D Smith run out 26

T Theophile b D Thomas 16

J Robinson c McCarthy b Jacobs 31

G Pope b Miller 14

S Ambris+ c D Thomas b Miller 50

K Cottoy not out 4

K Hodge not out 2

Extras (b4, lb1, nb1) 6

TOTAL (5 wkts, 48 overs) `149

To bat: K Mayers, K Cottoy, M Matthew, D Johnson

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-48, 3-72, 4-138, 5-146.

Bowling: Gordon 5-0-17-0, McCarthy 8-1-25-0, D Thomas 5-1-16-1 (nb1), Miller 16-4-41-2, Jacobs 13-3-42-1, Campbell 1-0-3-0.

Position: Volcanoes trail Scorpions by 296 runs.

Toss: Jamaica Scorpions.

Umpires: Deighton Butler, Gregory Brathwaite.