Jamaica Scorpions all-rounder Peat Salmon says batsmen will have to buckle down to build a “sizeable” lead against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the regional first-class match at Sabina Park.

The Scorpions ended Thursday on 59-4 in their second innings as 18 wickets fell during a day in spinners extracted sharp turn and bounce.

West Indies Test left-hander Kirk McKenzie, who opened the batting, is not out on 24, while Salmon, after grabbing five wickets earlier in the day, is on two.

Earlier, the Hurricanes made 231 in their first-innings reply after the Scorpions resumed on 173-6 and were bowled out for 221.

Scores: Scorpions 221 (68.2 ovs) and 59-4 (18 ovs); Hurricanes 231 (58.3 ovs)

Salmon said he and the remaining batsmen will have to step up on a wearing surface.

“The team’s [plan] is to bat as long as possible and get a sizeable lead, because the bigger the lead… the more challenging it will be for the opponents, so our aim is to bat as long [as possible] on the wicket because it’s deteriorating,” he said during an interview at close of play.

“I think we lost two or three wickets too many, but it’s the nature of cricket, so the batters to come just have to shoulder some of the responsibility,” Salmon added.

West Indies Test batsman Justin Greaves, who top-scored for the Hurricanes with 62, also noted that the wicket surprisingly favoured the slow bowlers.

“The pitch was a little bit difficult at times because it was spinning a lot — we were not expecting it to spin this much on day two… but we got a lead, which was very important,” he explained.

On Thursday, play bowled off 30 minutes earlier than the usual 10:00 am start to make up some of the time lost on the opening day due to rain.

The Scorpions lost their remaining four wickets for the addition of 48 runs.

Abhijai Mansingh (15) was first out to left-arm finger spinner Daniel Doram, closely followed by Ramaal Lewis (six), who was dismissed by Captain Rahkeem Cornwall.

Carlos Brown, who was unbeaten overnight on 68, was the ninth man out for a well-compiled 80, which included 12 fours off 179 deliveries.

Ojay Shields was the last man out for four, while Derval Green finished on 20 not out.

The relentless swing bowler Jeremiah Louis and off-spinner Cornwall claimed three wickets each for the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes reply did not begin well as pacer Green produced a peach only two balls into the innings — Mikyle Louis (0) playing inside the line to a delivery that shaped away and shattered the stumps.

The Hurricanes scored freely despite the loss of the early wicket, with former West Indies Test opener Kieran Powell playing some classy shots against the pacers to race to a brisk 41, which included three sixes and as many fours.

On the stroke of lunch the left-handed Powell, who appeared unsettled against the slow bowlers, offered a sharp catch to short-leg fielder Carlos Brown from off-spinner Ramaal Lewis.

The Lewis and Brown combination was at it again after the break, accounting for Keacy Carty. The 27-year-old West Indies white-ball batsman struck eight polished fours in his 80-ball 53.

West Indies Under-19 sensation Jewel Andrew looked the part in his brief stay at the wicket. But when on a breezy 32, the 17-year-old played down the wrong line to a straight delivery from Salmon that uprooted the off stump.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Jahmar Hamilton (12) launched a wild swipe at Salmon and was bowled.

Salmon got rid of Louis (five) as the Hurricanes entered the tea break at 214-6.

The rest of the batting fell away cheaply as Salmon and Lewis shared the final four wickets.

Greaves hit two sixes and as many fours in his knock, which came off 115 balls.

Salmon and Lewis finished with 5-50 and 4-80, respectively.

Behind by 10 runs, the Scorpions were under pressure almost immediately.

They lost Brown (0), the beleaguered Jermaine Blackwood (five), Leroy Lugg (one) and Captain Brandon King (19) to limp to the close.

Jeremiah Louis was again their main tormentor, taking 2-11 so far.