Jamaica Scorpions batsman Kirk McKenzie expressed confidence that the hosts have it within them to mount a comeback even as they face the probability of following on against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the regional first -class cricket match at Sabina Park.

At the close on Thursday’s second day, the Scorpions were reeling on 159-9 in reply to the Red Force’s big first-innings score of 432.

The hosts are 273 runs behind with only one wicket in hand and two days remaining in the seventh-round contest.

Scores: Red Force 432 (122 ovs); Scorpions 159-9 (56.1 ovs)

The Red Force off spinner Bryan Charles was the star on the day, getting sharp turn and using his pace wisely to prise out six wickets for 75 runs.

Jeavor Royal is unbeaten on 33, while Andrae Dennis is set to be the last man in for the Scorpions.

McKenzie, the West Indies Test left-hander, led the Scorpions with a fighting 57.

He remained defiant during the close of play interview, insisting the Scorpions batting —disappointing as it has been all season — can rebound.

“It’s not a good position for us, but I believe we can come back strongly in the second innings,” the 23-year-old batsman told journalists.

“Probably we will [be asked to] follow-on, but I strongly believe that we can come back in the second innings and [make] a good total. I know my teammates and I strongly believe we can click in the second innings,” McKenzie reiterated

Charles, who bowled accurately throughout the day, said his ploy was to bowl fairly quickly to get the most out of a pitch that was taking spin from day one.

“From [Wednesday] I think the pitch was spinning and it spun a lot more today. There are a lot of foot marks, a lot of rough to work with, so I think I exploited it well,” he explained.

“I think I bowled with a bit of pace on the pitch. I think the Jamaican [spin] bowlers were bowling a little slower, so I bowled a little faster to give the batsmen less time to adjust because when I bowled slower they were going on the back foot,” Charles added.

The second day began with the Red Force — who benefited from Joshua Da Silva’s hundred on Wednesday — in a relatively strong position at 308-7. The overnight batsmen Terrance Hinds and left-hander Khary Pierre, who were on 21 and one, respectively, solidified the Red Force dominance by stretching their eighth-wicket stand to 91 runs.

Pierre (43) was eventually dismissed by wrist spinner Abhijai Mansingh to ease the Scorpions’ suffering.

And after lunch, Hinds, who mixed cavalier stroke play with solid defence throughout his knock of 79, edged a catch to the Scorpions wicketkeeper Romaine Morris off the bowling of left-arm finger spinner Royal. The all-rounder Hinds struck seven fours and five sixes from 118 deliveries.

From 419-9 the Red Force added another 13 runs before the innings was wrapped up with Bryan Charles skying a catch to Salmon in the deep off the fast bowler Ojay Shields.

Royal ended with 3-113, while Shields and off spinner Peat Salmon had two wickets each.

The Scorpions openers Carlos Brown and left-hander Javaughn Buchanan got off to a comfortable enough start to take the score to 27.

But the link was broken when Brown unwisely left alone a ball from Anderson Phillip than angled in slightly from just outside off to cannon into the stumps. In the first instance, Brown was guilty of misjudging the line, and also, his technique was flawed as he pushed his left leg down the pitch rather than across to cover the wicket.

Buchanan played back when he should have pressed forward and was given out leg before wicket by spinner Bryan Charles as the Scorpions walked into the tea break at 57-2.

Debutant 19-year-old Justin Beckford looked the part before his inexperience showed when he attempted a slog sweep off Charles with a fielder on the boundary forward of square for seven. Cephas Cooper was the man on the boundary to take the straightforward catch.

Mansingh (eight) was adjudged to have feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Da Silva while trying to sweep Charles.

Stand-in skipper Peat Salmon (14) gave catching practice to as Charles took his fourth wicket of the innings.

Left-arm finger spinner Pierre ended McKenzie’s vigil when he induced the edge for Da Silva to do the rest behind the stumps. He struck two fours and as many sixes off 153 balls.

Pierre then accounted for another debutant Andre McCarthy (0) and Charles dismissed Ojay Shields as the visitors tightened the screws to end the day.