ROBERT Haynes, head coach of Jamaica Scorpions, says he was impressed by the effort of his players despite them surrendering first-innings honours in the drawn West Indies Championship four-day cricket match against Barbados Pride at Sabina Park.

For the fourth day running, rain interrupted play, sending the players off before the lunch break and delaying the start of the post-lunch session.

When play eventually ended moments after the clock ticked past 6:00 pm in fading light on Wednesday, the Scorpions were 90-4 in their second innings after Barbados declared on 626-8 in their first innings.

Scorpions skipper John Campbell, who batted at five instead of his usual opening position due to injury, and wicketkeeper/batsman Romaine Morris finished unbeaten on 42 and five, respectively.

Scores: Jamaica 457 (103 ovs) & 90-4 (39.3 ovs); Barbados 626-8 decl (154.3 ovs)

Against the backdrop of the Scorpions defeating the Pride last week in the first contest of the three-match bilateral series, Haynes told the Jamaica Observer he was satisfied with avoiding defeat on Wednesday.

“It turned out very well for us… overall we are pretty pleased with the result,” he said. “We saw the fight and determination from the players, which was good.”

The Scorpions coach suggested that the forced change at the top of the order unsettled the team as the Pride pushed hard for an outright win.

“It’s unfortunate that John didn’t get to open — whenever you have a good thing going and it breaks because of injury, it can set you back. But we knew once the captain went out there he would kind of control the game, and Romaine Morris also stuck it out,” Haynes noted.

Vasbert Drakes, the Pride head coach, hailed skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and the in form Kevin Wickham for laying the foundation for the team’s 169-run, first-innings lead on a “very good batting track”, but said the bowling was not as consistent as he would have wanted.

Even then, he added that the outcome of the match could have been different had a few umpiring decisions gone their way on the last afternoon.

“There were some very close decisions that if they had gone in our favour, the game would have been totally different,” he told the Observer.

The Pride began the day from their overnight score of 460-5, with left-hander Kyle Mayers on 16, and wicketkeeper/batsman Leniko Boucher on 12.

Barbados piled on the runs to put the Scorpions under pressure but Mayers missed out on a century when he was caught by Peat Salmon off the bowling of pacer Odean Smith at 542-6. He struck 84, including six fours and five sixes, from 130 deliveries.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Leniko Boucher fell 10 runs later, also to the Smith and Salmon duo, when he miscued a big hit.

Shamar Springer and Johann Layne continued to frustrate the Scorpions whose bowling appeared toothless and lacking in energy.

Springer eventually went caught by substitute fielder Jeavor Royal off pacer Marquino Mindley for 36. The Pride immediately declared, as Layne remained unbeaten on a 31-ball 43 highlighted by three sixes and as many fours.

The declaration left the Scorpions approximately two and a half hours to survive on what remained a placid batting pitch.

In overcast afternoon conditions the Scorpions were forced to promote Carlos Brown to open the batting alongside Kirk McKenzie, due to an injury Campbell sustained to the hip area while in the field.

McKenzie, who struck a terrific hundred in the first innings, failed to get off the mark in the second innings, driving in the air to cover for Jomel Warrican to take the catch off medium pacer Kyle Mayers.

Left-hander Javelle Glenn (10) and Brad Barnes (one) didn’t survive for long, both falling to gangly fast bowler Layne as the Scorpions skidded to 28-3.

Campbell, the Scorpions skipper, got to the crease at number five as he tried to settle the nerves of the home team.

But Brown, who batted 55 balls for 13 runs, was dismissed by wily left-arm finger spinner Warrican to keep the Pride in the hunt.

Campbell, who faced 91 balls while hitting four fours and two sixes, and Morris, who stubbornly held his ground for 62 deliveries, survived a few loud appeals from the Barbadian team as they battled to the close to avoid defeat.

The teams are scheduled to play the final match of the series, also at Sabina Park, from April 26-29.

— Sanjay Myers

Jair MacAllister of Barbados Pride dives forward to take a catch during the West Indies Championship cricket match against Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park in Kingston on Wednesday.