Jamaica Scorpions are hoping to cap off a woefully disappointing regional four-day cricket season with a positive result when they face hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in fifth-round action starting Wednesday at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

The out-of-contention Scorpions are last in the six-team league with 21.2 points after three losses and a draw. The Red Force, who lie in fifth place, have been almost as bad, mustering only 28.6 points.

Guyana Harpy Eagles lead with 68.2 points, ahead of Windward Islands Volcanoes (58), Barbados Pride (50), and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (41.4).

The Red Force lost by seven wickets to the visiting Pride at Queen’s Park Oval in their most recent match.

After securing a backs-to-the-wall draw with the Hurricanes in the first round, the Scorpions succumbed to respective six-wicket and 181-run losses against the Pride and the Volcanoes, followed by a 228-run trouncing at the hands of the Harpy Eagles last time out.

As it has been all season, the batting let down the Scorpions against the Harpy Eagles as they could only manage 115 and 229 in the face of 278 and 294-7 declared by the hosts at Guyana National Stadium.

Assistant Coach Nikita Miller said the latest defeat was set in motion in the first innings after the Scorpions folded just after passing the 100-run mark.

“We lost the game from our first-innings batting display,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“We are not making the right decisions with regards to shot selection for long enough.”

He added that the nature of the second-innings implosion after the Scorpions were well-placed at 181-1 chasing an improbable 458 runs for victory was particularly painful. Opener Tevin Gilzene struck 85, while Captain Jermaine Blackwood made 80.

“We were very disappointed [because] we had our hopes up going into the final day with two set batters. But unfortunately, we reverted to the poor shot selection we have been displaying all season,” Miller, the assistant to Head Coach Andrew Richardson, lamented.

“There have been weaknesses in technique in some instances, and [ill-advised] shot selection and in-innings strategy in others,” he said.

Though the batting has been the major sore point Miller said the bowling and fielding have also been found wanting.

“I would give the bowling display so far this season 7.5 out of 10 because up until the Guyana game no team got batting points from us. However, I believe we could’ve been more consistent in our lengths and lines. And the fielding overall hasn’t been at the level we expect,” he explained.

The Scorpions have been three changes to the squad which faced the Harpy Eagles with spin bowlers Jamie Merchant and Patrick Harty and injured batsman Nkrumah Bonner making way for batsmen Carlos Brown and Brad Barnes and spinner Jeavor Royal.

In other matches to begin Wednesday, the Harpy Eagles take on the Hurricanes, while the Pride square off against the Volcanoes.

Scorpions squad

Jermaine Blackwood (captain), Leroy Lugg, Tevin Gilzene, Carlos Brown, Paul Palmer, Abhijai Mansingh, Aldaine Thomas, Brad Barnes, Jeavor Royal, Nicholson Gordon, Marquino Mindley, Ojay Shields, Derval Green.