KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Head coach Junior Bennett says Jamaica Scorpions’ six-wicket victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last Monday was their best performance of Regional First Class Championship but has expressed concern about the potency of the bowling attack.
Scorpions chased down 156 to win their third round contest at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, to notch their second successive win following their ten-wicket triumph over Windward Islands Volcanoes at Sabina Park here last week.The victory was set up by part-time off-spinner John Campbell who finished with a career-best seven-wicket haul in the second innings but Bennett said the attack still needed more penetration.
“We bowled extremely well in the second innings. The pitch definitely took the spin, but Nikita Miller and John Campbell bowled well and that was a plus for us,” the veteran Bennett told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.
“Still, I don’t believe we are bowling as well as we can. The bowling is steady, but I don’t believe it’s that penetrative.”
Scorpions led Red Force by 20 runs on first innings after overhauling their 271 all out and courtesy of Campbell’s seven for 73, sent the hosts tumbling for 175 in their second innings.
The left-handed Campbell then stroked an enterprising unbeaten 83 to steer Scorpions to victory, a result that took them second in the standings behind leaders and defending champions Guyana Jaguars. “We’ve played our best game so far for the tournament, so once we can improve on that we’ll be in good stead,” Bennett explained.
I think we played some good cricket, even though I don’t believe our batting was as consistent as it could have been. I think we were well placed in the first innings to score somewhere over 300 runs, but did not get there.”
Following a short break in the tournament, Scorpions will face the luckless Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the next round.
Hurricanes have suffered heavy losses in all three of their games and lie bottom of the standings.
