KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Roston Chase struck a defiant half-century but left-arm spinner Nikita Miller’s eight-wicket haul limited Barbados Pride to a slender first innings lead on the rain-hit second day of their Regional four-day contest here yesterday.
Resuming from a strong overnight position of 103 for three in response to Jamaica Scorpions’ disappointing 177 all out, Pride could only muster 217 all out with Miller producing brilliant figures of eight for 67.
Captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite failed to add to his overnight 66 but Chase, unbeaten on nine at the start, took responsibility for the innings with a knock of 53.
Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican then grabbed two for ten to leave Scorpions stumbling at 22 for two, when rain half-hour before tea ended play prematurely for the day at Sabina Park.
Heading into the third day of the eighth round encounter, Scorpions still trail by 18 runs with eight second innings wickets intact.
Captain John Campbell was unbeaten on ten and partnered by Andre McCarthy on five.
Warrican, who opened the bowling, removed Shacaya Thomas for five in the third over of the innings to a catch by Brathwaite at slip with the score on six.
In his next over with just four runs added, Warrican claimed Barbadian Kirk Edwards for two, taken by Chase at mid-off.
Earlier, Scorpions had made a key breakthrough in the fourth over of the morning with five runs added when Miller had Brathwaite stumped.
Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich followed soon after cheaply, lbw to McCarthy (2-17) while Kevin Stoute made 17 before falling lbw to Miller.
Chase then anchored two small but key partnerships to help Pride to first innings lead, putting on 28 for the seventh wicket with Justin Greaves (14) and a further 33 for the ninth wicket with Antiguan import Hayden Walsh Jr, who made 22.
The right-handed Chase struck eight fours in an innings requiring 167 balls in nearly three hours at the crease.
Miller claimed Greaves caught and bowled, trapped Warrican lbw for three with four runs added at 168 for eight before grabbing the prized wicket of Chase, caught at the wicket.
For Miller, it was his second successive five-wicket haul following his seven for 69 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the last round.
He has now taken 23 wickets in his last five innings.
