Half centuries from Jahmar Hamilton and Karima Gore meant the second round West Indies Championship tilt between the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and the Jamaica Scorpions is evenly poised at stumps on day two at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The Scorpions, after starting the day 306-9 off 88 overs, were dismissed soon into the day for 320 with two balls remaining in the 95th over.
Brad Barnes, who entered the day 53*, finished 63*off 146 balls including three fours and a six.
Pacer Oshane Thomas took the day’s only wicket to finish with 1-43 from 13.4 overs.
The Leewards reply didn’t get off to the best of starts as current West Indies Test opener Mikyle Louis was bowled by a beauty from Marquino Mindley for just four with two balls remaining in the third over of the innings.
Keacy Carty then joined Kadeem Henry and the two added 24 for the second wicket before Henry struck a short wide ball straight to Carlos Brown at cover off the bowling of Odean Smith after scraping his way to 21 off 37 balls.
Carty and new batsman Karima Gore then made the Scorpions bowlers work a bit, adding a further 54 for the third wicket.
That wicket came in the 25th over when Carty edged one through to wicketkeeper Daniel Beckford off the bowling of Gordon Bryan for a 65-ball 22.
Youngster Jewel Andrew was next to the crease and he and Gore put together the Hurricanes’ second 50-run partnership of the day, adding 59 for the fourth wicket before Andrew went bowled by Jeavor Royal in the 39th over for 31 off 42 balls including three fours and a six.
Gore was next to go, lbw off the bowling of Tamarie Redwood for a well-played 76 in the 52nd over to leave the score at 189-5 with Jahmar Hamilton and Hayden Walsh Jr in the middle.
The experienced pair then embarked on a 78-run sixth-wicket partnership, the biggest of the innings, so far, bringing the score up to 267 before Walsh Jr fell to Mindley for 31 in the 65th over.
Captain Rahkeem Cornwall was the last man to fall on the day, bowled by Barnes for 16 with the score on 300 in the 78th over.
Hamilton finished the day 77* off 101 balls while Jeremiah Louis has yet to get off the mark.
Mindley has, so far, taken 2-36 from 16 overs.
Summarized scores:
Jamaica Scorpions 320 all out in 94.4 overs (John Campbell 126, Brad Barned 63*, Kirk McKenzie 33, Jeremiah Louis 3-44, Rakheem Cornwall 3-71, Hayden Walsh Jr 2-78)
Leeward Islands Hurricanes 301-7 in 79 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 77*, Karima Gore 76, Hayden Walsh Jr 31, Marquino Mindley 2-36).