Jamaica Scorpions Head Coach Robert Haynes showered praise on wrist-spin bowler Tamarie Redwood even as he cautioned that the teenager still has a lot to learn.

Redwood, 18, made a sensational first class cricket debut last week, claiming 7-72 in the second innings as the Scorpions overpowered hosts Windward Islands Volcanoes by 178 runs in the regional four-day match at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.

The performance triggered an episode of nostalgia for the 60-year-old Haynes — himself a former wrist spinner — based on his first-class debut in the early 1980s.

“Redwood bowled exceptionally well,” the coach told the Jamaica Observer after victory was wrapped up on Saturday’s final day.

“It reminded me of when I made my debut for Jamaica against Guyana — I got six wickets in the first innings. Redwood, coming here and getting seven wickets in the second innings… all credit to the young man.”

Haynes noted there is much scope for growth, particularly, in Redwood’s relative inconsistency in line and length.

“He has the potential to go further — he’s only 18, he’s still young and still learning. The sky’s the limit because Redwood spins the ball a lot and he has a googly (delivery that turns towards the right-hand batsman) which he also spins very well, so what we’re working on now is mostly his control.

“He was at a spin-bowling camp in Antigua a couple of weeks ago and they said he spins the ball a lot but he has some issues to sort out. So, although he is so talented, there’s still a lot of work to be done. I’ve told him that it’s a lot of work, he will have to make a lot of sacrifices, it’s not easy… but when he’s on song he is a match winner,” he explained.

Haynes said it was a “great team effort” from the Scorpions after they made scores of 337 and 277-7 declared and bowled out the Volcanoes for 195 and 241.

Out-of-favour West Indies Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood was outstanding with scores of 109 and 75, while Captain John Campbell cracked 79 in the first innings. Wicketkeeper/batsman Daniel Beckford, another player on first-class debut, contributed composed knocks of 39 and 50 not out.

Part-time medium pacer Blackwood and seam bowler Odean Smith took three wickets each in the first innings to derail the Volcanoes. Excelsior High schoolboy Redwood, who went wicketless in the first innings, stole the show in the second as the home team’s batsmen failed to cope with the turn and bounce that he got from the wearing surface.

“The batting unit did very well, getting 337 runs and I think what was important was the good partnerships. There was a very splendid century by Blackwood. The partnership between Blackwood and young Beckford, who is playing his first game for Jamaica, was exceptional in the first innings.

“When we bowled in the second innings we stuck to the task and when the captain introduced Redwood he came out on top. He bowled a couple of bad balls, a couple of full tosses which were dispatched for four, but I’ve always said that when you have a leg spinner who is a big spinner of the ball, once he’s able to pitch four out of six deliveries [in the right areas] it will create problems. The captain believed in him, the team believed in him… the support behind him was tremendous and he came out on top,” Haynes said.

The Scorpions are next set to face hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the second round, starting Wednesday.

— Sanjay Myers