BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Leaders and four-time reigning champions, Guyana Jaguars, suffered their second straight defeat while Jamaica Scorpions sneaked to a second straight victory to kick start their campaign, on the third day of the sixth round of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday.
At Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Jaguars slumped to a disappointing 93-run defeat to struggling Trinidad and Tobago Red Force while at Warner Park in Basseterre, Scorpions got over Leeward Islands Hurricanes by one wicket in an exciting finish.
In the other match at Kensington Oval here, hosts Barbados Pride were also staring at defeat to Windward Islands Volcanoes, after being forced to follow on by 217 runs.
At the close, they were 157 for six, still requiring a further 60 runs to make the visitors bat again.
The shock result, however, came when Red Force, with one win in four outings, easily outplayed Jaguars with a day to spare in the contest.
Resuming on 264 for five in their second innings, Red Force were dismissed for 317, with Jason Mohammed adding just four runs to his overnight 79.
Imran Khan, on 40 at the start, added six before he was seventh out and it was left to Jamaican Odean Smith with a breezy 27 off 23 deliveries, to stretch Red Force’s lead. Set 276 for victory, Jaguars were dismissed for 182, with only Romario Shepherd, batting at number seven, showing any resistance with a cavalier 50 off 58 balls with seven fours and a six.
West Indies batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj scored 30 in a 44-run opening stand with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (18) but once the partnership was broken, the innings went into decline.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan claimed three for 45 while off-spinner Bryan Charles (2-21) and seamers Smith (2-29) and Anderson Phillip (2-52) supported with two wickets each.
Scorpions, meanwhile, held their nerve to chase down 157, despite a six-wicket haul from Jamaican leg-spinner Damion Jacobs (6-62).
Resuming on 92 for four, Scorpions were carried by Assad Fudadin who made 36 while Kenroy Williams saw them over the line with an unbeaten 21 off 30 balls, with four fours.
Jacobs finished with match figures of 11 for 102.
Pride, meanwhile, extended their batting woes this season when they were dismissed for 253 in their first innings after resuming the day on 154 for four.
Captain Jonathan Carter failed to add to his overnight 64 while wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott made 31, as left-arm spinner Larry Edward ran through the innings with five for 67.
Asked to bat again, Pride were cruising at 93 for one behind a 79-run second wicket stand between opener Shayne Moseley (51) and Aaron Jones (39).
Moseley faced 132 balls in 3-¼ hours and struck six fours but was fifth out as the hosts lost five wickets for 59 runs.
Edward (2-42) and fellow left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge (2-49) did the damage for Volcanoes.
