The Jamaica Scorpions wretched season with the bat continued on Wednesday on the opening day of their West Indies Championship match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence. After restricting the Volcanoes to 217, the Scorpions slumped to 98-7 at stumps, still 119 runs behind.

It could have been much worse for Jamaica, who at one point were 41-6 before a 57-run partnership between Jamie Merchant (24) and Derval Green, who is unbeaten on 33, took them closer to 100 runs.

Justin Greaves was the main destroyer with 4-34 while Shermon Lewis supported with 2-29.

Earlier, Derval Green took 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26 and Merchant 2-39 as Jamaica bowled the Windwards out for 217. The in-form Alick Athanaze scored 81 and Greaves 50 offered crucial resistance to the Jamaican bowling.