KINGSTON, Jamaica— Brandon King, the Jamaica Scorpions captain, says he is “happy” with the state of the game after the hosts got their noses just in front against West Indies Academy at close of play on Thursday in the fourth-round regional four-day cricket match at Sabina Park.

The Scorpions enter Friday’s third day on 326-7, two runs ahead of West Indies Academy’s first-innings total. The 31-year-old all-rounder Peat Salmon, promoted to bat at number six, is not out on a patiently compiled 60, while Derval Green is on 25.

King, who made a typically attractive 77, led the Scorpions’ batting on the day, with valuable support coming from Leroy Lugg (64).

West Indies Academy left-arm finger spinner Joshua Bishop toiled manfully for 3-85, while pacer Kadeem Alleyne claimed two wickets.

Despite the keen tussle on day two, King suggested it was ultimately a case of mission accomplished for the Scorpions, who batted the full three sessions to score 306 runs in 90 overs.

“From the start of the day, we set out to overcome their score and at the end of the day we did that. [We lost] maybe a few wickets too many, but I’m still happy,” he told journalists at close of play.

“For the most part [I was satisfied with the batting], because it’s about recognising periods when to dig in, and it will always get easier,” he added while noting that batsmen should “work on” the tame manner of some of the dismissals this season.

He praised Salmon for holding the lower order together after the home team had slipped to 253-6.

“Coming in at number six for the first time this season he (Salmon) showed his class. He really showed that he can bat a long period of time and knows when to attack,” the Scorpions skipper said.

Bishop said the academy players were not too displeased with how day two unfolded given the placid nature of the pitch in ideally sunny conditions.

“It was a very difficult surface, especially the way Leroy Lugg, Brandon King and Peat Salmon were going — they played very well… the pitch was very good for batting,” he said.

“We have to come out and get the rest of the wickets and just look to carry on from there. We want to get them out for probably another 50 runs and get them out inside the first hour. [Then] we just have to come back in the second innings and look to build,” he added.

The Scorpions began Thursday on 20 without loss, with openers Carlos Brown and left-hander Kirk McKenzie both on 10.

The pair serenely took the Scorpions to a half-century opening partnership on a belter of a batting surface.

But with the score on 59, the 23-year-old McKenzie (29) drove a full-pitched Alleyne delivery to cover and was brilliantly caught by a diving Nyeem Young, the academy team skipper.

It was a particularly disappointing way to get out for the West Indies Test top-order batsman, who in his 19-match first-class career, has shown the propensity too often to drive aerially on the off side.

The Scorpions were 59-2 when under pressure Jermaine Blackwood, the former West Indies Test vice-captain, went leg before wicket to Alleyne for a second-ball duck. Blackwood, who was replaced by King as the team captain to allow him to focus on his batting, has measly returns this season of 14, 16, 8, 18, 0 and 0.

Carlos Brown, who looked good in getting to 33, went softly, chipping a ball from pacer Joshua James to mid-wicket and was caught by Johann Layne.

Lugg, 27, played a few streaky shots but survived to the break. After lunch, the big-hitting right-hander was rock solid and got to 50, but just when the 103-run partnership with King seemed to have been punishing the academy team in the pelting afternoon sunshine, Lugg gave his hand away.

He ill-advisedly hit Bishop down the throat of long-on fielder James. His 64 comprised nine fours and a six off 80 balls.

At the other end, King flourished after an unconvincing start and lifted the Scorpions to 216-4 at tea. He hit a six and a four off left-arm finger spinner Bishop to reach 50.

But as King approached a century he loosely went for a shot through the on side and was bowled by a delivery from Bishop. His knock came off 132 balls and featured 10 fours and a six.

Left-hander Romain Morris was dismissed for 13, and the visitors had a sniff of getting a first-innings advantage with the Scorpions six down for 253.

They took the new ball which was due after 80 overs but stuck with spin at one bowling end.
And Bishop made great use of it, flummoxing Abjijai Mansingh (12) with a ball that skidded on fast and straight to rattle the stumps.

The tall Salmon, who hit five fours and a six in his 157-ball unbeaten knock, joined forces with Green and the two counter-attacked against the tired-looking academy team to inch the Scorpions ahead just before the close.

—Sanjay Myers