Scorpions facing defeat in WI Championship

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes flipped the script on the Jamaica Scorpions on an intriguing day of cricket in the West Indies Championship yesterday.

The Hurricanes skittled the Scorpions out for just 170 in their second innings and now require just 112 more runs to complete their second successive win in the tournament.

Meanwhile, at the Guyana National Stadium the hosts Guyana Harpy Eagles staged a remarkable fightback against the Combined Campuses and Colleges. Tevin Imlach scored a fighting century and Ronaldo Alimohamed hit a counterattacking half-century to get the home side within 32 runs of CCC’s first-innings total before their bowlers struck decisive blows to put them in position to push for victory on today’s final day.

At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: After assuming a slim first innings lead of 15, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes dismissed the Jamaica Scorpions for just 170 runs in their second innings, to give themselves a target of 155 runs for victory.

Captain and opener John Campbell followed up his first-innings century with a knock of 53, but the Scorpions’ top and middle-order collapsed on the heels of decisive spells from pacer Oshane Thomas and spinner Rahkeem Cornwall.

Both bowlers took three wickets to see the Scorpions slump to 110 for seven, to give the Hurricanes a possibility of completing victory inside three days.

However, Gordon Bryan, who scored an unbeaten 34 and Jeavor Royal, who made 25, added 54 runs for the eighth wicket to frustrate the home side.

However, once Royal was dismissed by Colin Archibald, the Scorpions lost their last three wicket for 10 runs.

Thomas finished with 3-44, Cornwall snared 3-54, while Archibald supported with 2-36.

The Hurricanes then reached 44-1 at the close, and require just 112 more runs for victory on today’s last day.

Earlier, the Hurricanes added 25 runs to their overnight total to ensure they grabbed a useful first-innings lead.

At the Guyana National Stadium: Imlach rescued his side with a patient, unbeaten 126 and Alimohamed batted aggressively for his 77 as the Harpy Eagles completely transformed their contest against the CCC.

Resuming the day in dire straits at 166 for six in response to CCC’s 375, the Harpy Eagles’ last four wickets produced 177 runs to get them up to 343.

They were led by Imlach, who batted through the innings while facing 239 balls and formed several crucial partnerships along the way.

He added 58 with Richie Looknauth, who made 24, and then shared in a 120-run stand with Alimohamed for the eighth wicket to completely turn the match around.

By the time Alimohamed lost his wicket after facing just 66 balls and striking seven sixes and four fours, the Harpy Eagles had recovered to 294 for eight.

Veerasammy Permaul and last man Shamar Joseph then produced useful knocks to get the home side within 32 runs of CCC.

Joseph, Permaul and Kevin Sinclair then grabbed a wicket apiece to help restrict CCC to 31 for three, an overall lead of just 64 runs.