HEAD Coach Robert Haynes says the first-innings batting capitulation was the major letdown as Jamaica Scorpions lost by 214 runs to defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, in the regional first class match at Sabina Park.

In the first innings, the Scorpions were bowled out for only 44 — which record books indicate is the lowest first class total by a Jamaica team since being bundled out for 33 against an international touring team in 1902.

The visitors wrapped up victory mere minutes into the post-lunch session on the final day of the fourth-round encounter, bowling out Jamaica for 274 in their second innings as they chased a mammoth 489 runs.

Scores: Guyana 339 (109.2 ovs) & 193-3 (69.3 ovs) decl; Jamaica 44 (25.5 ovs) & 274 (85 ovs)

“To score 44 runs, it’s been over 100 years since a Jamaica team has done that [badly],” Haynes told the Sunday Observer after the match.

“The way we batted in the first innings [was the biggest downfall]. The Guyana bowlers pitched the ball up to the batters and created some problems — we played some loose shots.”

He noted that the bowlers also misfired, delivering too many wayward balls that failed to test the Harpy Eagles batsmen on a pitch that offered sideways movement and steep bounce over the course of the four days.

“If you have a wicket with grass [that offers] sideways movement, you have to pitch up the ball. We didn’t threaten them enough. The Guyana bowlers stuck to the task and they put 90 per cent of their deliveries in the right areas,” he explained.

Haynes acknowledged the individual contributions from pacer Odean Smith, who took a career-best, five-wicket haul in the first innings, and left-handed opener Kirk McKenzie who struck a brilliant 147.

“It’s still a learning process, and we had some positives from the game. Odean got five wickets and Kirk made a hundred but, at the end of the day, for us to win games we have to score runs on the board,” he said.

Ryan Hercules, the Harpy Eagles head coach, told the Observer that his team made better use of the conditions with both bat and ball.

Kevlon Anderson, 24, made an assured hundred in the first innings, backed up by a half-century in the second, while 26-year-old pacer Ronaldo Alimohamed was accuracy personified in capturing nine wickets in the match, highlighted by a career-best 6-17 in the first innings.

“I think, from a batting point of view, our guys were a bit more patient in terms of how we went about constructing our innings. We were hungrier in terms of trying to get runs and putting a decent total on the board up front, and [proper] application at the crease was something that Anderson did well,” he said.

“When we bowled we tried to capitalise on that inward and outward movement, challenge the batters a bit more. We know how Ronaldo and [fellow pacer] Nial Smith bowled, especially in that first innings, trying to hit that good length.

The Scorpions began the day on 179-3 — still over 300 runs off the winning target — but held very slim hopes of victory while McKenzie, who was on an unbeaten century overnight, was still at the crease.

The home team lost Javelle Glenn (14) early, but McKenzie and Brad Barnes took the score to 255-4 before a double blow before the lunch break derailed the chase.

Barnes was first to go for 25 while wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas went for six as the Scorpions limped to break at 264-6.

The 24-year-old McKenzie was dismissed after the interval, wiping out all remaining hope for the Scorpions who lost four wickets for 10 runs in that period.

McKenzie struck 15 fours and five sixes in his 249-ball knock.

Motie claimed 4-69 to lead the Harpy Eagles bowling in the second innings.

Kirk McKenzie (right) of Jamaica Scorpions bats as wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach of Guyana Harpy Eagles looks on during the regional four-day match at Sabina Park on Saturday. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

HERCULES… when we bowled we tried to capitalise on that inward and outward movement, challenge the batters a bit more (Photo: Sanjay Myers)

HAYNES… we played some loose shots (Photo: Joseph Wellington)