BATSMAN Kevin Wickham has again put Barbados Pride in a dominant position in the West Indies Championship four-day match against Jamaica Scorpions at Chedwin Park.

The 23-year-old Bajan, who hammered a majestic 153 in the first innings, has scored a polished, unbeaten 81 in the second innings to lead the Pride to 255-5 at the close of play on Tuesday.

Wickham has belted six fours and two sixes from 115 deliveries. All-rounder Shamar Springer, on an 81-ball 37, is the other not out batsman heading into the last day.

After taking a critical six-run, first-innings lead and accompanying bonus points when they bowled out the Scorpions for 342 on day three, the Pride hold an overall advantage of 261 runs with five wickets in hand.

Scores: Pride 348 & 255-5; Scorpions 342.

But Scorpions all-rounder Abhihai Mansingh, who has taken 2-56 with his wrist spin and at one stage had threatened to flip the match in the hosts’ favour, said the opportunity remains to pull off a come-from-behind win.

“We had set out to get the first-innings points, so obviously we are disappointed that we fell just short. Nonetheless, on a pretty docile pitch we are fighting, so if we come tomorrow and can dismiss them in the first hour, we can set up ourselves for a possible outright victory,” Mansingh, 28, told the Jamaica Observer.

He acknowledged that the partnership of 87 runs between Wickham and Springer has been pivotal. “I think it was a critical point in the game, and if we had taken a wicket there we’d be really in this game but I have to give credit to Wickham because he has played beautifully in both innings, and so too Springer,” Mansingh noted.

The irrepressible Wickham has a favourable history with Chedwin Park, previously scoring a century at the Old Harbour Road, St Catherine-based venue in 2024.

“I think the pitch is still a very decent one down the centre of the pitch [but] there are a lot of rough [areas], so the spinners are getting a bit more than the pacers. Any ground I play at this year, I’m looking to go big for the team,” Wickham said.

He told the Observer that he recognised the game hung in the balance when Springer joined him in the middle.

“When ‘Springs’ came to the wicket I told him that he’ll have to go deep because he was one of the main batsmen remaining,” he said, noting that balls which hit widening cracks on the pitch have tended to keep low and shoot off the surface.

The Scorpions, who batted out the entire Monday, resumed Tuesday morning from their overnight score of 275-6 with Peat Salmon and left-hander Romaine Morris, unbeaten on 38 and 35, respectively.

Salmon, who struck a 55-ball 45, went first, spooning a chance for wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher to take a running catch off Warrican’s left-arm spin.

After the crucial 73-run stand between Salmon and Morris ended, two more wickets fell in relatively quick succession in glorious sunlit conditions.

Morris, who accumulated 42 from 127 deliveries, attempted a big hit off Warrican but could only pick out Jair McAllister on the leg side boundary.

Warrican, bowling with guile and control, got his fifth wicket of the innings when he dismissed Marquino Mindley (zero).

Powerful hitter Odean Smith was left with last man Ojay Shields, with the score on 301-9.

Smith struck a number of lusty blows, featuring four sixes and three fours from 48 balls to dominate a 41-run stand.

He was stranded on an undefeated 49 after Shields hoisted a full-toss wrist spinner from Kyle Mayers into the hands of Johann Layne just inside the boundary.

Buoyed by gaining first-innings honours the Pride openers Kraigg Brathwaite and left-hander Shayne Moseley set a sturdy foundation, adding 98 runs.

Both were sent back to the pavilion by off-spinner Salmon.

Moseley was bowled for an 80-ball 65 after lashing 10 fours and a six, while Brathwaite went lbw for a patient 44.

Mansingh got rid of Jonathan Drakes and Mayers, both for 10, and pacer Mindley dismissed Boucher (zero) as the Pride suffered a mild wobble at 168-5.

However, Springer joined the assured Wickham to frustrate the Scorpions for the remainder of the final session.

— Sanjay Myers

MANSINGH… so if we come tomorrow and can dismiss them in the first hour, we can set up ourselves for a possible outright victory