Scorpions lose close contest to unbeaten Pride

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC): JAMAICA SCORPIONS suffered their second loss in three outings after Barbados Pride snatched a dramatic one-wicket win in a compelling low-scoring contest under lights at Kensington Oval here Monday.

Erratic Scorpions could only muster a disappointing 190 all out after they opted to bat first. Pride then scraped home, with two overs left, to notch their third straight win and continue on top of Group B.

The visitors appeared favourites to grab the points when they reduced Pride to 143 for eight in the 38th over, with all the leading batsmen already removed.

But the tail wagged with Man of the Match Kemar Roach striking a gutsy 23 off 31 balls in an invaluable 42-run ninthwicket partnership with Ashley Nurse, who made an unbeaten 21.

Sulieman Benn, who finished unbeaten on two, joined Nurse and together they calmly levelled the scores before the West Indies left-arm spinner pushed speedster Renard Leveridge down the ground for the winning runs off the last ball of the 48th over.

BATTING BLUSTER

Shane Dowrich had earlier top-scored with 40 while Roston Chase also chipped in with 23, but Pride’s usual batting bluster deserted them and they never came to grips with the tricky run chase.

Once again, former West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor made things difficult by claiming three for 38 from his ten overs while new ball partner, rookie Renard Leveridge, was outstanding with two for 35 from his ten.

Campbell supported with two for 33 from six overs.

Scorpions had earlier needed Rovman Powell’s aggressive 74 to rebound from the threat of total collapse and get up to their eventual score.

Slumping badly at 97 for six in the 28th over, Scorpions were boosted by Powell’s bravado, as the right-hander smashed three fours and six sixes in a stroke-filled 79-ball knock.

He helped put on 77 for the seventh wicket with Damion Jacobs, whose 31 came from 47 balls and included four fours.