Odean Smith believes Jamaica Scorpions are just an arm’s length away from taking the ascendancy after being put to the sword by Guyana Harpy Eagles on the opening day of the regional first-class match at Sabina Park.

At stumps on Wednesday’s opening day, the title-holders Harpy Eagles, who were powered by Kevlon Anderson’s fluent century, were 260-5.

Smith ended the day with 3-46 as the Scorpions rallied to claim four wickets in the final session

“I think we came back well in the last session,” the pace bowler told the Jamaica Observer at the close.

“The guys put in a good fight, so we just have to come back and get these five remaining wickets. Once we can get those wickets before lunch or after lunch we’d definitely be in the game.”

He said he was “very surprised” by how the grass-covered pitch played on day one after Guyana won the toss and batted.

“The wicket is very flat, we didn’t get the amount of bounce we wanted from the wicket, though the ball was seaming in the last session,” Smith, 28, explained.

Kevlon Anderson, who was forced to retire hurt in the final session after rolling his ankle, made an even 100. The 24-year-old right hander was free-scoring throughout but also solid in defence while hitting 10 fours and a six off 161 deliveries.

“We would have preferred to have lost maybe two wickets fewer but it’s still a good position to build on,” Anderson told the Observer before noting that he expects to be able to bat if required on Thursday.

He was pleased with how he adapted on a surface that was livelier than what he would normally experience in Guyana.

“This is a case of hard work paying off. The pitch had more bounce and pace [than surfaces in Guyana] but I think I adjusted well and stuck to my game and it went well. I waited for balls that were bowled in my area and it worked well. The pitch played well, it’s good for batting,” he reasoned.

Earlier, the Harpy Eagles opted to bat first in sunny conditions on a pitch that had a healthy layer of grass.

The decision proved to be a good one for Guyana as they dominated the first day of the fourth-round contest.

The left-hand opening pair of Matthew Nandu and Tagenarine Chanderpaul appeared at ease on a surface that presented few terrors for the batsmen.

But not long before lunch, Chanderpaul was trapped leg before wicket by Smith for 32 with the score on 55.

Anderson joined Nandu and the two carried the Harpy Eagles throughout the entire post-lunch session without losing a wicket.

Anderson was the more aggressive batsman, while at the other end, the left-hander Nandu was more patient in his approach.

After they had added 137 for the second wicket, Nandu was dismissed when teenage leg spinner Tamarie Redwood had him stumped by wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas early in the final session. He struck 61, inclusive of five fours off 195 balls.

Anderson went on to reach his second hundred of the season but soon after he was limping off the field when he hurting his ankle while running between the wickets.

The Scorpions bowlers appeared to get a psychological bounce thereafter, and began to get more from the older ball.

They were able to dismiss skipper Tevin Imlach (16), Kevin Sinclair (7) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (10) as the Harpy Eagles slipped to 251-5.

Kemol Savory and Gudakesh Motie, on 18 and six, respectively, are the not out batsman for the Harpy Eagles.

Redwood, though guilty of bowling too many full tosses, has so far offered Smith the best support with the ball, ending the day with 2-89.

— Sanjay Myers