Barbados Pride make strong reply to Jamaica Scorpions 140

Shamar Springer

COOLIDGE, ANTIGUA:-Two-time defending champions Barbados Pride were 89 for two after dismissing Jamaica Scorpions for 140 in their second round clash of the West Indies four-day cricket championships at the Coolidge Ground, Antigua, yesterday.

Three bowlers, led by Shamar Springer, finished with three wickets each. Springer, the former Windies Under-19 all-rounder, was the pick of the Pride bowlers, taking a flattering 3-11 from 9.5 overs.

Left-arm spinner Camarie Boyce supported with 3-26 from 11 overs and pacer Akeem Jordan bagged 3-48 from 17 overs.

Darren Bravo

Scorpions, choosing to bat, never recovered once they slumped to 44 for four before lunch, and needed a stand of 44 between Jamie Merchant, whose 35 was the top score, and Abhijai Mansingh with 27 to beef up their total.

Pride looking to bounce back from feeble batting that led to a demoralising loss in the first round got an opening stand of 40 from left-handed opener Shayne Moseley, not out 41, and Zacharay McCaskie before two wickets in 10 balls set them back.

McCaskie and rookie batsman Jonathan Drakes were both caught behind off pacers Ojay Shields and Gordon Bryan before Moseley and out-of-favour Windies batsman Shamarh Brooks shared 48 unbroken batting together for close to an hour before the close.

IN NORTH SOUND, ANTIGUA: Forgotten international batsman Darren Bravo looked poised for a hundred after he anchored Trinidad & Tobago Red Force to 151 for three in their first innings against hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Bravo was unbeaten on 74 and Yannic Cariah was not out on 32, and they have so far shared 82 unbroken for the fourth wicket to stabilise the Red Force batting at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. The visitors wobbled to eight for two inside the first half-hour before Bravo anchored successive half-century stands with fellow international Jason Mohammed and Cariah.

Mohammed added 74 with Bravo before he was caught behind off pacer Sheeno Berridge before Cariah came to the crease and blunted the Hurricanes attack in between the showers.

Today is the second day.