Jamaica Scorpions skipper Paul Palmer was full of praise for his players after the eight-wicket win over reigning champions Guyana Jaguars, in the eighth-round West Indies four-day match at Sabina Park.

The Scorpions wrapped up victory inside two days, bowling out the Jaguars for 158 and 138, and responding with scores of 139 and 158-2.

“It’s a pleasurable win because we managed to execute our bowling plans, and then in the second innings we executed our batting plan well. I think we played a good team game,” Palmer said during a post-match interview on Friday.

Debutant off-spinner Akim Fraser had match figures of 8-134 for the Scorpions, while veteran pace bowler Jerome Taylor claimed 7-50.

The Scorpions’ captain was impressed with Fraser for putting in extra work, after fellow off-spinner Kenroy Williams fell ill from the first day.

“I think he (Fraser) bowled exceptionally well, especially to the left-handers. He really created some pressure for us. Even with a bowler short he stuck his hand up and bowled long spells for us and got the job done,” Palmer said.

In the Scorpions’ first innings, left-hander Assad Fudadin made 43 not out, while Derval Green added 40.

Jermaine Blackwood, who made an unbeaten 72, and Brandon King, with 66 not out, shared in an unbroken 143-run third-wicket partnership that eased the Scorpions over the line in the second innings.

While 16 wickets fell on day one, and bowlers claimed the same number on day two, the pair made batting look easy on a grass-covered pitch that mostly favoured the bowlers.

They were the only two batsmen to reach 50 in the match.

“Both of them got in, they got set, and they brought us home — and hats off to them for the excellent batting. They took risks when it was warranted and got the job done for us.

“We knew once we batted properly [we could win] because there was no devil in the wicket, so we were not surprised by this. We haven’t been batting consistently well this season but we are trying to fix it; and I think we are getting there,” Palmer told the Jamaica Observer.

Jaguars captain Leon Johnson felt let down by this team’s batting, with wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble top-scoring with knocks of 36 and 34.

“It was disappointing. I don’t think we batted well in either innings, [because] 158 and 138 are simply not enough inside two days. A couple of the guys got in, but nobody carried on to get a big score — Bramble top-scored on both occasions. A couple of the batters at the top didn’t take responsibility. There were a couple of cheap wickets and that exposed the lower order,” said left-hander Johnson who made 24 and 31.

“I don’t think there were any devils in the wicket. On the first day you’d expect it to be a little bowler-friendly, but the batters just didn’t apply themselves. There was something for both the seamers and the spinners on the first day and a bit on the second day, but I think it did even out a little bit in the afternoon [of the second day],” Johnson said in reference to Sabina Park pitch.

The Jaguars’ skipper noted that the match was close until Blackwood and King counter-attacked in sensational fashion.

“It could have gone either way. We had two early wickets and we know Jamaica have struggled to chase low totals, but those two batters stood up and showed with good application what you can achieve,” he told the Observer.

Though the Jaguars lost — their third of the season — they remain top of the six-franchise table with 117.2 points from eight matches, and are favourites to lift the four-day title for the fifth time in a row. The fifth-placed Scorpions have 76.4 points from seven matches, just ahead of cellar team Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (67.4 points from seven).

Leeward Islands Hurricanes are second with 93.4 points from seven outings, followed by third-place Barbados Pride (90.6 from seven) and fourth-place Windward Islands Volcanoes (80 from eight).