MIDDLE order batsman Javelle Glenn has come in for high praise after his maiden first class hundred lifted Jamaica Scorpions to an emphatic 223-run victory over title contenders Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the sixth round of the regional four-day championship.

The 27-year-old left-hander, in his debut first class campaign and only his fifth match at this level, struck a measured 140 not out in the first innings which put the Scorpions in the driver’s seat as they rallied from 151-6 to score 372 all out.

On the runs scoring chart so far this season, Glenn is second in the team with 387 at an average of 43. Left-handed batsman John Campbell, captain of the Scorpions, has 405 runs — including two centuries — while averaging 45.

Campbell said Glenn’s century on a pitch which offered variable bounce was the culmination of his gradual growth this season. Glenn scored 66 in the second innings of the third-round match against Barbados Pride, and hit 68 and 39 against West Indies Academy in round five.

“Glenn’s [century] knock was very pleasing,” Campbell told the Jamaica Observer.

“The maturity he has been showing is special; you could have seen it coming from the previous games. I think he has gotten better over the course of this season.”

While Glenn’s hundred was pivotal, the Scorpions benefited from an outstanding team effort.

Abhijai Mansingh (67), Jermaine Blackwood (61), and Kirk McKenzie (31) made meaningful contributions in the first innings, while the bowling attack, led by pacer Marquino Mindley’s 3-37, dismissed the formidable Red Force batting line-up for 171.

Brandon King’s battling but classy 89 on a wearing pitch took the Scorpions to 187 in their second innings for an overall lead of 388 runs.

The Scorpions off-spinner Brad Barnes (4-19) did the greatest damage in the second innings as the Red Force crumbled for 165 all out on the penultimate day. Barnes and wrist spinner Mansingh each took five wickets in the match while Mindley and fellow pacer Odean Smith both grabbed four.

The Scorpions skipper pointed to two major batting partnerships.

“To get over [370] runs in the first innings on a tricky wicket was a big effort by the guys. McKenzie and Blackwood batted really well for a partnership of [96] runs, and then Glenn and Mansingh added [148]. The way they batted was really commendable,” Campbell said.

He credited the bowlers for twice pacifying the Red Force unit which comprises the in form pair of Jason Mohammed and Joshua Da Silva — both players have scored three centuries this season.

“The Red Force batsmen have been scoring pretty heavily this season. For us to bowl them out twice for under 200 shows how well our bowlers did bowl. It started with Mindley in both innings; we got early wickets from him and that made it easier on the other bowlers,” he said.

“In this game we got most things right, and when the momentum swung our way we made sure to hold on to it,” Campbell added.

The Jamaica team’s last match of the season is against Combined Campuses and Colleges in Trinidad, set to begin Wednesday.

— Sanjay Myers

LEAGUE TABLE

Team
Points

Guyana 111.6

Trinidad & Tobago 105.4

Barbados 100

Leeward Islands 94.6

Jamaica 82.8

Windward Islands 51.6

WI Academy 39.2

Combined Colleges 35