KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Captain John Campbell’s fourth first class century headlined an admirable Jamaica Scorpions batting display as they set up an intriguing final day of their second round match against Windward Islands Volcanoes today.
Under the cosh at the start of yesterday’s penultimate day on 203 for seven – still 184 runs adrift of Volcanoes’ first innings total of 387, Scorpions were bowled out for 220 to find themselves in even more difficulty.
However Campbell, in his first season as skipper, punched a typically fluent 101 while fellow Test star Jermaine Blackwood stroked an enterprising 76 as Scorpions ended the day on 291 for three.
Nkrumah Bonner was unbeaten on 40 and the in-form Paul Palmer, on 37, knocks that helped Scorpions turn the momentum of the game their way.
Heading into the final day at Sabina Park, Scorpions lead by 124 runs.
With little margin for error after losing their last three second innings wickets cheaply and being asked to bat again, Scorpions lost Assad Fudadin for nine after he had added 31 with Campbell for the first wicket, driving off-spinner Shane Shillingford to the diving Sunil Ambris at cover.
Campbell then paired with Blackwood in an authoritative stand of 155 which turned the tide and carried Scorpions to lunch on 46 for one.
Unbeaten on 18 at the break, Campbell hit nine fours and two sixes in an innings needing 157 balls and just over 3-¼ hours while Blackwood, on nine at the interval, faced 141 balls in just under 3-½ hours and counted eight fours and a six.
Campbell brought up three figures by lifting Shillingford over mid-wicket for four in the final over before tea but perished in the third over after the break, bowled by Josh fast bowler Josh Thomas (2-37) missing a clip into the leg side.
Palmer, with a first innings half-century, then put on 25 with Blackwood for the third wicket before uniting with Bonner in an unbroken 80-run, fourth wicket partnership, to ensure there were no further missteps.
Palmer has faced 84 balls and counted a four and a six while Bonner has struck four fours in a 79-ball innings.
