A quality showing from Barbados Pride’s top order shifted the game in their favour, as they established a solid foundation for a good first innings total against Jamaica Scorpions on the day two of the West Indies four-day cricket game at Sabina Park.

Barbados Pride worked their way to 233-5 at close yesterday, some 18 runs away from taking first innings honours, after the Scorpions earlier ended their innings at 250.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Jonathan Carter have so far led the way for Barbados Pride with composed half-century knocks as the top order batsmen prudently adjusted their pace throughout, attacking when opportunities came and defending when the bowling demanded it.

Brathwaite, who was involved in three critical partnerships — one of which was a 48-run third-wicket stand with Carter — patiently prodded his way to 57 off 132 deliveries in a knock that included a mere five boundaries.

The 31-year-old Carter is so far unbeaten on 68 and will be eying a century when he resumes another key partnership with 24-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman Tevyn Walcott, who is unbeaten on 16. They have so far partnered in a sixth-wicket stand of 42 runs.

Scorpions on the other hand will be hoping that their fast bowlers rest up to provide more quality and better fortunes on the slightly grass-covered pitch which continues to show pace and bounce.

Scores: Jamaica Scorpions 250 all out (87.5 overs); Barbados Pride 233-5 (80 overs).

Earlier, the Scorpions resuming from 218-7 overnight, lost their remaining three wickets cheaply inside the first hour of play. Jerome Taylor only added one to his overnight score of 14 before being caught behind by Walcott off Cummins.

Cummins then had Miller caught by Carter for a duck, before Keon Harding accounted for Akim Fraser, also for a nought. Derval Green took his overnight eight to an unbeaten 27.

Jamaican-born fast bowler Marquino Mindley, who caused most damage early in the Scorpions innings, ended with 3-36, while Cummins had 3-37.

The stage was then set for the Scorpions fast bowlers to emulate the success of their counterparts, but the attack of Jerome Taylor and Derval Green were pale in comparison as Brathwaite and Shayne Moseley started positively for the Pride with an opening stand valuing 60 runs.

Though bowling a good attacking line and beating the edge several times, the fast bowlers never really worried the pair, particularly Moseley, who showed some signs of aggression as things looked very attractive for the visitors.

It took Nikita Miller and his left-arm orthodox spin to find the breakthrough when he had Moseley caught by Brandon King at point shortly after the break. The left-hander’s 75-ball innings of 40 runs, included seven boundaries.

Captain Shamarh Brooks provided another stable hand for Brathwaite at the other end, scoring 20 runs in the 42-run, second-wicket stand, but he too was cleaned up by Miller with the score at 102-2.

That brought Carter and Brathwaite together and the two settled down into the next partnership which again thrilled the Pride dressing room and left the Scorpions bowlers a little deflated.

The relatively slow pace of the scoring at times resulted in Brathwaite eventually raising his milestone off 124 balls. However, he failed to stick around much longer and was trapped in front by Akim Frazer’s fourth ball in the 52nd over, after surviving an appeal from the previous delivery.

Carter dominated a 37-run, fourth-wicket stand with Roston Chase, who only mustered 12 before being caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Kennar Lewis off Derval Green.

Green again combined with Lewis to send back Shamar Springer to the pavilion without scoring, as the Scorpions gradually clawed their way back into the contest. At 191-5, the Scorpions were aware that one more wicket could result in the Pride’s fairly average lower order crumbling easily.

But they were made to wait by Carter and young Walcott, who will be eager to play a vital innings today.