Jamaica Scorpions first-innings batting hero Peat Salmon expects an uphill task for the hosts to reel in the 234 runs required for victory against West Indies Academy as the fourth-round West Indies Championship match continues to ebb and flow going into the final day at Sabina Park.

West Indies Academy, who faced a 48-run first-innings deficit, were bowled out for 281 in their second innings, mere minutes before the scheduled close of play on Friday, giving them a lead of 233 runs on a pitch that began to turn appreciably for the slow bowlers.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Carlon Bowen-Tuckett top-scored for the academy team with a well-composed 53, while Kadeem Alleyne muscled an attacking 52.

Wrist spinner Abhjai Mansingh, who was roughed up towards the end of the innings, was the Scorpions top bowler with 4-70, while off-spinner Salmon grabbed 3-55.

Earlier, the 31-year-old Salmon, who was promoted to bat at number six, top-scored with a first-class career best of 81 as the Scorpions — who batted throughout the second day — took their overnight score to 372 in the first innings.

The Barbadian left-arm finger spinner Joshua Bishop, who bowled with guile and plenty variation in flight, ended with fabulous figures of 6-96 on a surface that was especially good for batting on the opening two days.

Scores: WI Academy 324 (82 ovs) & 281 (74.1 ovs); Scorpions 372 (108.2 ovs)

Salmon said while it will not be easy, he is backing the Scorpions to overhaul the target.

“It is a sizeable total on a fourth-day wicket but… I think we have the batting to chase down the target they set. It will be challenging, the third-day wicket started spinning a bit more, so on the fourth day it will probably deteriorate some more,” the Jamaican all-rounder said during an interview at close of play.

After missing out on a maiden century at this level by only 19 runs, Salmon did not try to conceal the agony, but said other opportunities might come as way.

“[To say I am] disappointed is an understatement, but we still have a couple more games to go this season… [and] we still have a game to win tomorrow.

“I’m always up for a challenge, so if it comes to me I just have to put up my hands and play a match-winning innings.”

Barbadian Nyeem Young, the West Indies Academy captain, told journalists his team has a good chance of pulling off a come-from-behind victory.

“It was a good day for us to be in this position. If you had given us this position this morning we would have taken it.

“This morning we came back to take the remaining wickets as quickly as possible and we did that, and we batted well to be in this position,” the 23-year-old said, noting that he expects his bowlers to make life difficult on the wearing surface.

The Scorpions resumed Thursday on 326-7 with Salmon on 60 and Derval Green on 25.

The team added 46 runs to the total as the relentlessly accurate 23-year-old Joshua Bishop took the remaining three wickets.

Green was the first to go, bowled for a quickfire 38-ball 35 with the Scorpions on 350-8

Salmon, who played some majestic shots particularly off the back foot throughout the innings, fell next when he was trapped leg before wicket (lbw). He was uncharacteristically patient, hitting eight fours and a six off 198 balls.

Jeavor Royal made eight before he was the last man out, skying a catch to Alleyne.

For the second time in the match, the academy team got off to a breathtaking start thanks to Alleyne who bludgeoned the bowling to all parts.

The Scorpions left-arm finger spinner Royal, who opened the bowling alongside pacer Green, was the main target, going for 30 runs in his first four overs.

The partnership was broken just after lunch when Alleyne’s opening partner Rashawn Worrell (19) tried to force a ball from off-spinner Salmon off the backfoot and nicked a catch to wicketkeeper Romain Morris.

Alleyne, who made a fluent 52 when the academy team batted first on Wednesday, replicated that score in the second innings while hammering six fours and thee sixes from only 41 balls.

Fast bowler Ojay Shields ended Alleyne’s knock via the lbw route, while 17-year-old Barbadian Joshua Dorne, who top-scored with 83 in the first innings, backed away to a sharply turning off spinner from Salmon and was bowled.

Mansingh then got in on the act, Teddy Bishop slashing at a delivery but edging to Blackwood at slip. The sidelined West Indies Test batsman, who dropped two chances in the first innings, smartly parried the ball above his head before catching on the second attempt.

Jamaican Jordan Johnson, who made a half century in the first innings, went bowled and caught to Mansingh for 26, while Young (21) went in identical fashion.

Joshua Bishop (two) unwisely tried to lift Salmon over long on but could only find Leroy Lugg on the boundary rope as West Indies Academy slumped to 171-7.

But similar to the first innings, the hosts lower-order players frustrated the Scorpions as Joshua James (36), Ashmead Nedd (30) and Johann Layne, who made an eight-ball 22 not out, exhibited their hitting power to push the lead upwards of 230 runs.

Bowen-Tuckett was the glue holding the lower order together, striking six fours during his 133-ball knock. He was the ninth wicket to fall, dismissed by Mansingh.