A wet Sabina Park outfield halted the progress of rampant Windward Islands Volcanoes during yesterday’s opening day of the second-round Digicel Regional four-day clash against hosts, Jamaica Scorpions.

When the umpires decided to call an end to play, the Scorpions were lurching on 83-6 in the 36 overs that were possible on the day, as the visitors bowled exceedingly well in favourable conditions.

However, not much favour was found with the drainage system at Sabina Park — which usually dries relatively quickly even after heavy rain — or with the equipment available to ground staff to execute the mopping up exercise.

No play was possible after yesterday’s second rain break at 2:15 pm, even though the light but persistent showers that bathed the venue ended shortly after 3:00 pm.

Play is scheduled to resume at 9:30 am today — 30 minutes earlier than the usual start time — to make up for some of the time lost.

The not out batsmen for the Scorpions are Devon Thomas, who is on 18, and Damion Jacobs, on one. Left-hand opener John Campbell has so far top-scored with 32.

The Volcanoes off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who almost always excels at Sabina Park, has taken 3-11 off seven overs. Left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson has figures of 2-30 off 13 overs.

The Scorpions were forced to make two changes to the team that lost to Guyana Jaguars last week. Pacer Jason Dawes is out due to a hamstring injury, while his opening bowling partner Marquino Mindley had to sit out with a stomach problem.

Their replacements were Reynard Leveridge and Oshane Thomas.

Yesterday, the Volcanoes won the toss and unsurprisingly sent the Scorpions to take first strike in overcast conditions on a green, grass-covered pitch.

It was a paradise for the quicker bowlers who all got sideways movement and a fair amount of bounce. And there was early success when opener Trevon Griffith, another left-hand batsman, fell to Johnson at 19-1.

Griffith went for six when he slashed at a Johnson delivery and edged in the direction of third slip for Tyrone Theophile to parry to first slip fielder Devon Smith, who pouched an easy catch.

Campbell then added 39 runs for the second wicket with number three batsman, Thomas as the pair showed grit in seeing off the pacers.

But after an early lunch, which was forced by the first rain break, the Volcanoes had additional success.

Campbell was dismissed to the first over of spin for the day when he assayed a big hit off the prolific wicket-taker Shillingford, only to sky a catch to Mervin Matthew. He made 32.

A further four wickets fell in quick time.

West Indies middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood (three) took a half step down the pitch to Shillingford and played over and around a full-pitched delivery at 61-3.

One run later, Johnson made a delivery seam and bounce to hit the edge of Andre McCarthy’s bat before carrying to Liam Sebastien at second slip. He made only one.

It was a good delivery, however McCarthy, who enjoyed a recent experience with the West Indies A team, would have been disappointed to have jerked his bat at the ball.

Chadwick Walton, on six, was trapped leg before wicket by Shillingford, while Derval Green (four) was spectacularly bowled by pacer Kyle Mayers as the Scorpions slumped to 79-6.

Rain then sent the players to an early tea break with Thomas and Jacobs at the wicket for the Scorpions before a damp outfield had the final say.

Scoreboard

SCORPIONS 1st Innings

J Campbell c Matthew b Shillingford 30

T Griffith c Smith b Johnson 6

D Thomas not out 18

J Blackwood b Shillingford 3

A McCarthy c Sebastien b Johnson 1

+C Walton lbw b Shillingford 6

D Green b Mayers 4

D Jacobs not out 1

Extras (b2, lb8, nb2) 12

TOTAL (6 wkts, 36 overs) 83

To bat: *N Miller, O Thomas, R Leveridge

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-58, 3-61, 4-62, 5-72, 6-79

Bowling: Matthew 7-3-9-0, Johnson 13-3-30-2, Mayers 9-1-23-1, Shillingford 7-1-11-3

VOLCANOES – *L Sebastien, D Thomas, T Theophile, J Robinson, +S Ambris, K Hodge, K Mayers, S Shillingford, D Johnson, M Matthew, L Edwards

Toss: Volcanoes

Umpires: Verdayne Smith, Leslie Reifer Jr