KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica Scorpions breezed to a target of 158 runs on Friday to beat four-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars by eight wickets in the West Indies four-day cricket match at Sabina Park.

Jermaine Blackwood hit 72 not out from 86 balls, while Brandon King added an unbeaten, 92-ball 66.

The two shared in an unbroken stand of 143 runs that ensured the Scorpions’ third victory of the season was wrapped up inside two days.

The win was all the more outstanding given that the grass-covered pitch offered sideways movement for the quicker bowlers, and grip and bounce for spinners over the previous three innings.

Before that, the Scorpions’ bowling kept the hosts in the game after they had conceded a 19-run first-innings lead.

Led by pacer Jerome Taylor and debutant off-spinner Akim Fraser they dismissed the visiting Jaguars for 138, giving them a lead of 157 runs.

Scores: Jaguars 158 (55.4 overs) & 138 (40 overs); Scorpions 139 (35.4 overs) & 158-2 (31.2 overs)

Taylor, bowling with guile and deceptive pace from a relatively short run-up, captured 4-26 to end with seven wickets in the match. Fraser took 4-65 to back up his four-wicket haul in the first innings.

In their run-chase, the Scorpions lost openers Paul Palmer and Chadwick Walton cheaply, but Blackwood and King delivered counter-attacking punches to ease the hosts over the line.

Sanjay Myers