Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) stalled Jamaica Scorpions’ progress in the late afternoon on Thursday, even as Chadwick Walton hit a majestic century for the hosts in the regional four-day cricket match at Sabina Park.

At the end of day two, the Scorpions, powered by Walton’s 163, were 259-6, still 48 runs adrift of the Combined Campuses and Colleges’ first-innings score of 307 all out.

The CCC’s 17-year-old Barbadian wrist spinner Zishan Motara, playing in only his second first-class match, stood out with 4-69 from 22 overs and a ball.

The 38-year-old Walton, who was among five batsmen dismissed in the final session as the Scorpions slipped from 191-1, was a bit frustrated he did not press on into the third day after scoring his sixth first-class hundred and highest at this level.

“[We are] still not out of the woods as yet. I would have loved to be there to start the innings again tomorrow [today], but unfortunately it didn’t happen this time,” the opening batsman told journalists at the close of play.

“I just hope the rest of guys can come and pull through and get us over the line and at least give us some cushion, so we can have a lead going into the second innings. We are still 40-something runs behind,” the Jamaican said.

After dominating the Scorpions scorecard — his opening partner Carlos Brown (48) was the only other batsman to reach double figures — Walton said sticking to the basics was central to his success on a pitch that appeared to offer even pace and bounce.

“I think I stuck to the simple things for longer,” he said, while noting that his ageing limbs are “still holding up” and that for now he feels “like about 23”.

“It’s just unfortunate the other fellows didn’t cash in on it but I’m sure, probably, in the second innings somebody else might step up.”

The tall and slender Motara, a first-timer to Sabina Park, told the Jamaica Observer he relished bowling from the southern Michael Holding end.

“At first it [the pitch] was a bit flat but then it started favouring me in the end. I tried to bowl in front of the batsmen, mixing up my pace, and probably spinning some and not spinning some, and just using the variations,” he explained.

Earlier, the colleges team began from an overnight score of 260-7 and added a further 47 runs for the loss of the final three wickets.

Veteran Barbadian left-hander Jonathan Carter, who began the day on 108, went on to hit an impressive, unbeaten 137, his sixth century in first-class cricket. He struck 15 stylish fours and two sixes off 213 balls, as none of his teammates reached 40 in the innings.

Pacer Gordon Bryan (3-66) had the Scorpions’ best bowling figures, while fast bowler Ojay Shields also chipped in with three wickets.

In reply, the pair of Walton and Brown sprinted to a 150-run partnership for the opening wicket. Walton was particularly fluent, playing cut shots, back-foot drives and pull shots with consummate ease and flair.

After a slow start, Brown also picked up the pace, showing a tidy repertoire of shots, but just before the tea break he was bowled by a ball that skidded on from Motara with the score on 169.

West Indies Test left-hander Kirk McKenzie (nine) didn’t stick around for long — he aimed a loose drive at seamer Sion Hackett and was emphatically bowled.

Motara, who got steep bounce at times, then dismissed Bonner (six) and the Scorpions Captain Jermaine Blackwood (eight).

However, Bonner, whose top score this season is 45, was rightfully aggrieved when Gregory Brathwaite gave him out edging to slip. Replays indicated the ball did not hit the bat, the second time in three innings that the out-of-favour West Indies batsman was on the wrong end of such a decision.

The wily Carter, who bowled with a surprising amount of hostility for a medium pacer, dismissed Abhijai Mansingh (nine) fending at one of several short balls aimed at the body.

And Walton was sent back by Motara off the first delivery of the day’s final over when Kirstan Kallicharan snatched a sharp catch under the bat. Walton belted 16 fours and five sixes off 245 deliveries.