Champions Guyana Jaguars need another 103 runs with eight wickets intact in search of victory at the end of the rain-affected and gloomy third day of the Digicel regional four-day match against hosts Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park.

The Jaguars will resume on 79-2 when play is scheduled to start on today’s final day at 9:30 am — half an hour earlier than usual to make up for time lost due to two rain delays yesterday.

Left-handers Vishaul Singh and former West Indies batting star Shivnarine Chanderpaul are unbeaten on 13 and zero, respectively. Left-hand opener Shimron Hetmyer, who made a half-century in the first innings, has top-scored so far with a 45-ball 42.

The Jaguars were set 182 for victory after the Scorpions, who surrendered a seven-run first-innings lead on Saturday, were bowled out for 188 in their second innings yesterday.

Left-arm seam bowler Raymon Reifer, who got sideways off the pitch, took 5-60 for the Jaguars.

Scores: Scorpions 255 (70.3 overs) & 188 (62.2 overs); Jaguars 262 (88.3 overs) & 79-2 (19 overs)

Under overcast morning skies — which contrasted with the brilliant sunshine witnessed over the previous two days – the Scorpions resumed yesterday from their overnight score of 61-1, with opener Chadwick Walton not out on nine and Jermaine Blackwood on 25.

The attacking Blackwood, on 35, appeared to get a touch on the ball while trying to hook a short-pitched delivery from fast bowler Romario Shepherd in the first over of the day.

But the 25-year-old batsman was lucky as the ball burst through the hands of wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble.

He perished after adding two more runs when left-arm finger spinner Veerasammy Permaul had him plumb leg before wicket at 74-2. His 37 runs came off 38 balls and included five fours and a six.

First-innings century-maker Walton, who again batted maturely and looked set on occupying the crease all day, lost concentration and missed a sweep shot to be bowled for 12 by a Permaul delivery that pitched outside leg stump and spun back.

It was 95-4 when pacer Keon Joseph, who took seven wickets in the first innings, got one to rear viciously at Andre McCarthy (seven) from just short of a length.

All the middle-order batsman could do was to fend with the bat to protect body and limb, and the ball looped to the slip cordon where Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson took the catch.

It was the first indication that the placid surface of Friday and Saturday was transforming into less of a batting paradise, and more signs were to come as the day progressed.

An hour’s play was lost immediately after lunch as rain, which began during the interval, thwarted play.

But just after the break, batsman Brandon King (22) flashed a drive at a full and wide delivery from the 25-year-old Reifer and was caught at backward point by Permaul.

Devon Thomas (32) was also lured into a drive by Reifer and spliced a catch to Hetmyer at gully with the score on 157-6.

Damion Jacobs (zero), Derval Green (17) and Nikita Miller (four) all went cheaply as the Jaguars tightened the screws. A last-wicket stand of 23 runs between Jerome Taylor (14) and Marquino Mindley, who was left not out on nine, delayed the visitors.

However, Reifer picked up his fifth wicket of the innings when Taylor guided a short delivery to second slip for Johnson to take a splendid diving catch to end the resistance.

However, the visitors had a worrying start to their run chase.

Before he got off the mark, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of Shivnarine, was forced to retire hurt after being hit on the little finger of the left hand by a lifting Taylor delivery.

At press time yesterday, the left-hander was to undergo an X-ray at University Hospital of the West Indies.

The Jaguars lost their first wicket when Johnson, who replaced young Chanderpaul, nudged a full delivery from Green into the hands of McCarthy at short leg.

At the other end, Hetmyer helped himself to five fours and a six in a purposeful batting display before he fell to slow left-arm orthodox bowler Miller for the second time in the match.

The left-hander tried to sweep Miller’s delivery but got glove on the shot, and Blackwood ran from conventional slip to leg slip to take an easy catch.

Not long after the umpires decided to end play as the conditions got darker just after 5:00 pm.