Guyana in control after embarrassing Scorpions’ batting display

Jamaica Scorpions’ stand-in Captain Marquino Mindley says poor shot selection is to be blamed for the team folding for an abysmal 44 runs in reply to Guyana Harpy Eagles’ first-innings score of 339 at Sabina Park on Thursday.

Entering the third morning of the regional four-day contest on Friday, the Harpy Eagles are 68-1 in their second innings, sitting pretty on a commanding lead of 363 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Scores: Harpy Eagles 339 (109.2 ovs) & 68-1 (30 ovs); Scorpions 44 (25.5 ovs)

The visitors’ dominant position was set up after 26-year-old pacer Ronaldo Alimohamed ran through the Scorpions’ batting with his first-class best of 6-17. His pace bowling partner Nial Smith grabbed 4-21.

Mindley lamented the Scorpions’ implosion with the bat on a surface that, while offering steep bounce at times, appeared good for batting.

“We started the day very well to bowl out Guyana for 339. But I don’t think the guys put any price on their wicket because you can see the result, [being] bowled out for 44,” he told journalists at the day’s end.

“The wicket is very good to bat on… it is not a 44-run pitch. I don’t think they bowled straighter than us, it was just bad decisions from our batters,” he added, while urging the batting unit to perform better when given the chance to bat in the second innings.

Alimohamed, who got sideways movement and steep bounce off the surface, told the Jamaica Observer that his focus was on accuracy and getting the batsmen to play each delivery.

“I give thanks to the Almighty for a wonderful bowling spell like that. I was just trying to bowl stump to stump in good bowling areas and [force] the batsmen to play. I just put the ball in the right areas and let it do the rest,” the Guyana bowler explained.

Earlier on day two, the Harpy Eagles resumed from their overnight score of 260-5 but lost their remaining five wickets for the addition of 79 runs in the first session.

Kevlon Anderson, who retired hurt on Wednesday after getting to an even 100, returned to extend his top score to 116 before he was caught by wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas off the bowling of pacer Odean Smith. The 24-year-old Anderson struck 13 fours and two sixes in his fourth first-class century, and his second of the season.

Left-hand opener Matthew Nandu (61) and Kemol Savory (48) were the next best scorers.

The 28-year-old Odean Smith, who got the ball to seam around, led the Jamaican bowling with career-best figures of 5-68, his first five-wicket haul in four-day cricket. Mindley, who bowled with great control, grabbed 2-36, while wrist spinner Tamarie Redwood had 2-109.

When Jamaica batted, the speedy Nial Smith shared the new ball with off spinner Kevin Sinclair, but that experiment was scrapped almost immediately.

Sinclair made way for Alimohamed as the Guyana pacers set about scything through the home team’s batting.

No Jamaica Scorpions batsman reached double figures, as extras, which amounted to 17 runs, led the contributors for the Scorpions’ embarrassing total.

Batting a second time, the Harpy Eagles lost the wicket of Nandu (7), but were otherwise largely untroubled as left-hand opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and captain Tevin Imlach ended the day unbeaten on 37 and 19, respectively.

— Sanjay Myers