Scorpions poach Jaguars for first win

The Jamaica Scorpions recorded their first win of the 2020 Regional Four-Day Championship following an enthralling seven-run victory over hosts Guyana Jaguars in their fourth-round clash at the National Stadium in Providence.

The Jaguars had resumed on 155 for nine, still needing 27 runs to win the contest, with Veerasammy Permaul on 20 and Keon Joseph on five.

With one wicket to get to, Scorpions skipper John Campbell started the final day with spinners Jamie Merchant and Patrick Harty Jr.

The Jaguars continued to frustrate the visitors, with Permaul forming the strike while ticking away at the target.

The closest the Scorpions got to picking up the final wicket was a sharp chance off the bat of Joseph, which flew between the wicketkeeper and Jermaine Blackwood at first slip off Jamie Merchant with the score on 162.

As the Jaguars got into single figures with just seven runs to win, the nerves crept into the Jamaican camp following the 44-run partnership.

Campbell would then turn to swing bowler Derval Green, who made the vital breakthrough when he had Permaul trapped in front for a valiant 28, which lasted for 103 balls. Joseph was left not out on 11.

The final wicket sprang euphoric celebrations for the Scorpions and winning coach André Coley, who were claiming only their third victory over the Jaguars in Guyana in the competition, which had a format change in 1966.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

“This win is definitely a confidence booster for the guys,” Coley said. “We have been knocking on the door in previous contests, and we didn’t give up and went toe-to-toe with this strong Guyanese side. This win means a lot, and we are hoping to continue in the same vein.”

Despite Guyana coming close, Coley always believed that his troops could do the job, and he credits Campbell and the senior members of the team for pulling through.

“There was never any shortage of belief, and credit must go to John for making the call to bring on Derval at that moment, and this shows that the team is slowly getting it right. All we need to do is to put everything together, and we will continue to win games.”

The Scorpions are scheduled to return home today before travelling to Trelawny, where they will take on the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their fifth-round encounter at the Trelawny Stadium, starting on Thursday.