Jamaica Scorpions’ woes with the bat continued in the 2016-17 Digicel Regional four-day cricket season after they slumped to 157-8 yesterday against Barbados Pride in the rain-affected third-round encounter at Sabina Park.

Before light afternoon showers caused a wet outfield, which forced umpires to call off play approximately 4:15, the Scorpions left-hand opener John Campbell notched his third half-century of the season. But he once again fell short of reaching triple figures after being dismissed for 60.

Off-spinner Kenroy Williams and pacer Kemar Roach have taken 2-16 and 2-24, respectively, for the Pride.

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

Nikita Miller, the Scorpions captain, is not out on five, while Reynard Leveridge is yet to get off the mark.

Score: Scorpions 157-8 (64.5 overs).

The Scorpions leg-spinner Damion Jacobs is hopeful the bowlers can again lift the team out of a hole created by the batsmen.

“[It is] not the best position, but our bowling attack has been doing well for us all season, so it’s just for us to bat as much as we can,” he said.

Emmerson Trotman, the Pride’s coach, still has eyes on winning despite the wet outfield severely impacting the playing time.

“We got no control over the weather, but we just have to try to get the first-innings lead to start with, and hopefully they will bat badly in the second innings and we’ll be able pull off a win,” Trotman said.

Yesterday, play began at 10:00 am in sunny conditions after rainfall and a soggy outfield combined to totally wipe out play on Friday’s opening day. A drainage issue linked to the lack of scheduled maintenance is believed to be the major reason for the prolonged wet outfield.

The Scorpions took first strike after the Pride won the toss and opted to bowl.

But on a pitch that appeared true in bounce, it was another dismal show from the Scorpions batsmen, who are yet to reach a 250-run total this season.

They were reeling on 21-4 as the Pride’s opening quick bowlers Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach equally shared the first four wickets to fall.

Shacya Thomas, brought into the Scorpions’ side for the struggling Trevon Griffith, was caught at slip for two by Shamarh Brooks off Roach.

West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood (zero) and Devon Thomas (three) were sent back to the pavilion by the tall and wiry Greaves, while Roach accounted for wicketkeeper/batsman Chadwick Walton (five).

There was little respite after the slow bowlers came on as Williams, left-arm finger spinner Jomel Warrican, and off-spinner Roston Chase all got in on the act.

The main resistance during that time was Campbell, who was a picture of patience and guile while facing 142 deliveries. The 23-year-old batsman struck five boundaries.

He reached 50 when he punched the 127th delivery that he faced to the cover boundary. It was a short and wide delivery from Williams, but it left the small handful of watchers at the venue pleased with the execution.

After passing the landmark Campbell stroked back-to-back flighted deliveries from wrist-spinner Nikolai Charles to the cover and long off boundaries, respectively. But he went in the very next over, caught by Omar Phillips at silly point off the 32-year-old Williams.

Jacobs is so far the next highest scorer with 30, while Andre McCarthy made 22, and debutante Fabian Allen hit four boundaries in his knock of 19.

Scoreboard

SCORPIONS 1st Innings

J Campbell c Phillips b Williams 60

S Thomas c Brooks b Roach 2

J Blackwood c Chase b Greaves 0

D Thomas lbw b Greaves 3

+C Walton c wkp Rampersad b Roach 5

A McCarthy c Brooks b Warrican 22

F Allen c Roach b Williams 19

D Jacobs c Brooks b Chase 30

*N Miller not out 5

R Leveridge not out 0

Extras (b6, lb5) 11

TOTAL (8 wkts, 64.5 overs) 157

To bat: D Green

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-4, 3-16, 4-21, 5-52, 6-90, 7-129, 8-156

Bowling: Roach 13-4-22-2, Greaves 12.2-5-40-2, Stoute 4-2-6-0, Warrican 12-2-38-1, Charles 12-4-22-0, Williams 10-3-16-2, Chase 1-1-0-1

PRIDE – *K Stoute, A Alleyne, O Phillips, S Brooks, R Chase, K Williams, +M Rampersad, J Warrican, K Roach, J Greaves, N Charles

Toss: Pride

Umpires: J Williams, N Duguid