Scorpions hunt first win in showdown with champs Pride
JAMAICA Tallawahs, fresh from their backs-to-the-wall draw against hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their regional four-day opener last week, will be seeking their first win of the season when they face champions Barbados Pride.
The match is scheduled to get underway 10:00 am (9:00 am Jamaica time) on Wednesday at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, the venue for the Scorpions’ first-round outing.
The Pride, winners of the last two editions of the tournament, are looking to recover from the heavy 183-run loss to Guyana Harpy Eagles in their first-round contest at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, also in Antigua.
Scorpions Head Coach Andrew Richardson suggested the encounter with the Pride could be decided on narrow margins.
“All the small things that we didn’t get right in the first game, I’m hoping we nail them down in this one,” he told the Jamaica Observer on the eve of the match.
“It’s our second game at the ground; Barbados haven’t played on this wicket as yet so hopefully we [will] use that to our advantage and come out on top in this one.”
Reflecting on the match against the Hurricanes — dominated by Rahkeem Cornwall who powered the hosts within a whisker of victory, and Scorpions debutant Abhijai Mansingh who defiantly saved his team — Richardson indicated it was a platform to build on.
Off-spinner Cornwall claimed 10 wickets in the match, plus thrashed 85 in the second innings for the Hurricanes.
Leg-spinner Mansingh had a match haul of five wickets, in addition to half-centuries in both innings, to prop up the Scorpions. The compact, right-handed batsman got support in the first innings from opener Leroy Lugg, who blasted an 82-ball 79, and stand-in skipper Paul Palmer (47).
“It was a hard-fought game against the Leewards; Cornwall was outstanding for them,” the Scorpions head coach said.
“Under the circumstances Mansingh was awesome; he played with grit and resilience and he showed great character. Lugg played a typical innings in the first innings and Palmer got a decent knock, and the bowlers were fairly decent right throughout the game,” Richardson said.
In other second-round matches the Hurricanes are set to take on Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium while Windward Islands Volcanoes host the Harpy Eagles at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada.
The Scorpions are fifth in the six-team standings with 6.2 points while the Pride are last with 4.8.
The Harpy Eagles (20 points) are early leaders after their big win, followed by Red Force (10.2), Volcanoes (8.4) and Hurricanes (7.4).
Squads: Scorpions — Paul Palmer (captain), Jamie Merchant, Tevin Gilzene, Aldaine Thomas, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Romaine Morris, Abhijai Mansingh, Patrick Harty, Akim Fraser, Marquino Mindley, Gordon Bryan, Ojay Shields
Pride — Shane Dowrich (captain), Camarie Boyce, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Drakes, Keon Harding, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Jair McAllister, Shayne Moseley, Zachary McCaskie, Shamar Springer, Kevin Wickham
— Sanjay Myers