TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC) — Despite a brilliant maiden List A century from all-rounder Jeavor Royal, the Jamaica Scorpions went down by one wicket to the Windward Islands Volcanoes in their CG United Super50 Cup clash at Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Thursday night.

Royal’s brilliant 124 rescued the Scorpions and helped them to a decent score of 231 in 44.4 overs; however, all-around contributions saw the Volcanoes inching over the line at 233 for nine in 49.1 overs to seal the win.

The day/night contest saw the Scorpions win the toss and decide to make first use of the decent batting wicket.

That decision did not seem all that great at first as early wickets were the order of the day for the Volcanoes bowlers who virtually blew away the Jamaican top and middle order.

When the 22nd over of the innings was being bowled the Scorpions were in tatters at 87 for seven, with captain Brad Barnes 21 and opener Carlos Brown 22 the only batters to reach double figures at that point.

Pacer McKenny Clarke and medium pacer Shadrack Descarte had combined to pick up four of the top six wickets, however lower-order batsman Jeavor Royal had other ideas as he came in at number eight and played the innings of a lifetime.

With his team down and out Royal decided to fight fire with fire, and he went about his business most destructively. Royal struck four fours and 11 sixes in a whirlwind 107-ball knock.

The right-hander first shared in a 58-run eight-wicket partnership with debutant Andre Bailey, who made 21, and then added a vital 76 runs for the final wicket with Tamarie Redwood who contributed just one run to the effort.

Royal was the last wicket to fall, in the 45th over, to Clarke who ended with 3-41 while Descarte and Kenneth Dember picked up two wickets each.

With a more-than-decent total to defend, the Scorpions had to work hard for wickets as the Volcanoes batters chipped away at the target with meticulous precision.

Five batters in the Windwards line-up got starts, with opener Johan Jeremiah 30, Sunil Ambris 34, Darron Nedd 35, Descarte 31, and Dillon Douglas 44, all contributing to the successful run chase.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Volcanoes, though, as the Scorpions picked up wickets at crucial times to leave the game on a knife’s edge towards the back end of the innings.

It would come down to the final pair in the final over as Dember, with a vital 19 not out, and Darel Cyrus 5, saw the Volcanoes over the line.

Marquino Mindley, Royal, Bailey and Barnes picked up two wickets each.

Jeavor Royal (Photo: Joseph Wellington)