KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Half-centuries from Sunil Ambris and all-rounder Kyle Mayers gave Windward Islands Volcanoes the upper hand over Jamaica Scorpions, on the penultimate day of their second round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.
Resuming on one without loss in reply to Scorpions’ 151, Volcanoes were dismissed for 205 to take a lead of 54 runs at Sabina Park.
At the close, Scorpions were 92 for two – a small overall lead of 38 runs heading into today’s final day.
Volcanoes made a poor start to the day, losing three early wickets to slide to 30 for three, as seamer Derval Green (2-37) made vital strikes.
Veteran Devon Smith was caught behind without scoring off the day’s first ball from debutant 19-year-old pacer Oshane Thomas – his first ball in first class cricket – and Green then sent back opener Tyrone Theophile (3) and Jerlani Robinson (19) in quick succession.
Ambris and Mayers then both hit a joint top score of 61 to rally the innings while Kavem Hodge made 26 and Delorn Johnson, 23.
Ambris struck eight fours off 94 deliveries and put on 66 for the fourth wicket with Hodge, before adding a further 51 for the sixth wicket with Mayers, who belted five fours and a six off 98 balls.
Thomas (2-26), leg-spinner Damion Jacobs (2-43) and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-45) all finished with two wickets apiece.
Opener John Campbell then spearheaded Scorpions’ second innings charge with an unbeaten 43, which has so far lasted 95 balls, 128 minutes and included three fours.
He put on 53 for the first wicket with Guyanese Trevon Griffith who made 22 before falling lbw to seamer Mayers (2-22)
The left-handed Campbell also posted 22 for the second wicket with Devon Thomas before Mayers struck again, bowling the Antiguan for nine.