Scorpions host Hurricanes at Sabina Park
JAMAICA Scorpions are expected to have a tough job handling a confident Leeward Islands Hurricanes bunch in this weekend’s ninth-round West Indies four-day cricket match at Sabina Park.
Play is scheduled to start this morning at 10:00 o’ clock.
The Scorpions are fifth in the six-team table with 76.4 points, while the Hurricanes are second with 93.4 points, and in with a real shot of denying leaders Guyana Jaguars (117.2) a fifth title in a row.
Barbados Pride are third with 90.6 points, ahead of fourth-place Windward Islands Volcanoes (80) and cellar team Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (67.4 points).
To the advantage of the Hurricanes and the Pride, the Jaguars and the Volcanoes have played eight matches each while all the other teams have played seven.
The Hurricanes coach Winston Benjamin said his team will be looking to avenge the one-wicket loss to the Scorpions in the reverse fixture weeks ago at Warner Park in St Kitts.
“I think against Jamaica we took our foot off the gas a little bit in terms of application, and hence gave Jamaica a chance which they took. However, it’s a different game now…and if we’re going to be a serious contender for the title we definitely have to take this one and hope Guyana slip again,” said Benjamin, the former West Indies all-rounder.
While the Hurricanes played to an entertaining draw against the Red Force in the previous round, the Scorpions beat the Jaguars by eight wickets.
Debutant spinner Akim Fraser took eight wickets to lead the Scorpions, with support coming from Jermaine Blackwood and Brandon King who both scored unbeaten half-centuries in the successful run chase.
“If we bat like that in any game we are going to do very well because throughout the season the batting has not been consistent. They [Blackwood and King] made the wicket look so easy, batting wise,” said Scorpions coach Robert Haynes, while praising Fraser’s performance.
“Once we can put good totals together I know the bowlers will always come out on top because they have been doing that all season. It’s a new game, a new surface, new surroundings, [so] we have to go out there and play smart cricket,” he added.
