Green, Merchant lead Scorpions to innings win
TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC) — Fast bowler Derval Green and off-spinner Jamie Merchant shocked Windward Islands Volcanoes with five-wicket hauls to propel Jamaica Scorpions to an innings and 14-run victory inside three days here on Friday of the regional four-day tournamenr at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium.
Resuming the morning on 101 for three in their second innings and still requiring a further 108 runs to avoid an innings defeat, Volcanoes were demolished by Green who snatched five for 46 and Merchant who ended with five for 72.
Volcanoes looked a good bet to survive when they reached 163 for four midway through the morning session but a stunning collapse — losing their last six wickets for 32 runs — handed Scorpions an easy win after lunch.
Captain Kavem Hodge top-scored with 63 and Keron Cottoy chipped in with 21 but no other batsman on Friday passed 20.
On 33 at the start, Hodge stitched together two small partnerships in the morning session, putting on 26 for the fourth wicket with Ackeem Auguste (11) and a further 36 for the fifth with Alick Athanaze (21).
Auguste, yet to score at the start, struck two fours before edging a heave at Merchant to be caught at Jermaine Blackwood above his head at slip.
Cottoy, meanwhile, also punched two boundaries before succumbing to Merchant, bowled playing back and two balls later in the same over, wicketkeeper/batsman Denis Smith was also bowled, the delivery breaching a front front defensive stroke.
On 165 for six at lunch with Hodge on 56, Volcanoes were undone afterwards by Green who snatched three of the four wickets to fall including that of Hodge, bowled dragging on a short ball — the first delivery after the resumption.
Scoreboard
VOLCANOES 1st Innings 1st 137
SCORPIONS 1st Innings 346
VOLCANOES 2nd Innings
(overnight 101 for three)
K Melius c King b Green 17
DS Smith c Blackwood b Green 34
K Hodge b Green 63
A Athanaze c &b Merchant 17
A Auguste c Blackwood b Merchant 11
K Cottoy b Merchant 21
+DDH Smith b Merchant 0
K Dember not out 10
S Lewis c Blackwood b Merchant 6
P McSween c Merchant b Green 4
J Thomas lbw b Green 0
Extras (b5, lb6, nb1) 12
TOTAL (all out, 74.2 overs) 195
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-67, 3-101, 4-127, 5-163, 6-163, 7-173, 8-190, 9-195, 10-195.
Bowling: Gordon 14-5-21-0, Green 18.2-4-46-5, Mindley 13-1-41-0, Merchant 28-4-72-5, Bonner 1-0-4-0.
Result: Scorpions won by an innings and 14 runs.
Man-of-the-Match: Jamie Merchant
Toss: Scorpions.
Umpires: D Ramdhanie & Z Bassarath