THOUGH left agonisingly stranded on 97, Romaine Morris cut a positive figure after Jamaica Scorpions recovered to 269 all out on the opening day of the West Indies Championship match versus Barbados Pride at Sabina Park.

At the close on Wednesday the Pride were 15 without loss as openers Zachary McCaskie, on 13, and Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, on one, comfortably negotiated seven overs in late afternoon.

Morris, the 28-year-old wicketkeeper batting at number seven, was the binding force for the Scorpions with a counter-attacking exhibition after they had slumped to 113-5 early in the post-lunch session.

Despite playing in only his eighth first class match, the aggressive left-hander finished unbeaten three runs short of a first century at this level as wickets tumbled all around him.

“We were in a spot of trouble, we were losing a cluster of wickets so my plan was to go out and play my natural game and also be selective in my shots. I think it paid off, I think 260-odd is something we can work around so hopefully tomorrow [Thursday] we can come and have a good start with the ball,” Morris told journalists at the close.

He admitted being distraught after running out of partners in search of his maiden hundred and exposing number 11 batsman Ojay Shields to a full over from Jomel Warrican, who was the outstanding bowler in the innings.

“I’m a bit disappointed but at the end of the day I’m very elated as well. It’s my highest score in first class [cricket] so it’s something to build on, and I’m very grateful,” Morris said.

“It was, for a second, that I kind of miscalculated [running two instead of one]. It’s in the game, it’s a learning process so I have to take this and move on and, hopefully, if I’m in the situation again I can play it a bit better,” he explained.

While Morris’s knock was pivotal for the Scorpions, West Indies left-arm finger spinner Warrican was just as impressive, snaring 5-62 to ensure the Pride kept a lid on proceedings.

Warrican, 31, was pleased with restricting the Scorpions to 269 on what he felt was a “very good batting track”.

“The conditions weren’t easy to bowl in — it was a very flat track so I had to pull out all the skills and be very disciplined,” he said after his 20th five-wicket haul at first class level.

“I think with the start that the Scorpions had they should have capitalised on that some more but, saying that, well-played to [Morris] because I think he played an outstanding innings to get them in a decent position. We have to come and bat very well, which I know we are capable of doing,” Warrican added.

Earlier, the Pride won the toss and asked the Scorpions to take first strike in sunny conditions.

After the Scorpions lost the experienced Chadwick Walton (five) with the total on 10, opener Carlos Brown (40) and West Indies Test left-hander Kirk McKenzie (40) took them safely to lunch at 72-1.

But after the pair added 75 runs for the second wicket Brown was dismissed, triggering a mini collapse which included four wickets falling for 28 runs.

Morris, who scored 34 and 68 in the opening-round loss to Windward Islands Volcanoes, underlined his batting credentials with several sumptuous shots, particularly down the ground and through the off side as the Scorpions sped to 172-5 at tea.

He was dropped twice — on 35 and on 81 — off fast bowler Jair McAllister (3-69), with Shane Moseley and Shaquille Cumberbatch the respective culprits.

But at the other end the Pride tightened the screws in the final session as another flurry of wickets went down before last man Shields was outfoxed by a slow, turning delivery from Warrican which clattered into the stumps and left Morris three short of his personal milestone.

Morris struck 10 fours and three sixes off only 126 deliveries.