Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood narrowly missed out on a hundred but anchored Jamaica Scorpions to 33-run,first-innings lead so far against the Leeward Islands in Trelawny on Friday.

Blackwood hit the top score of 98 and the Scorpions batted consistently down the order to finish the day with a tidy advantage as the Scorpions closed on 260 for 6.

Blackwood shared stands of 52 with Paul Palmer for the third wicket and 58 with Oraine Williams for the fifth wicket to power the Scorpions’ innings.

Several others got starts, but they failed to carry on – Grenadian wicketkeeper/batsman Denis Smith, one of the Scorpions draft imports, was not out on 36; West Indies left-handed opener John Campbell, the Scorpions captain, made 35; Williams got 30 and Palmer added 21.

 West Indies off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall was the pick of the Hurricanes bowlers, taking 3-72 from 28 overs, and pacer Sheno Berridge captured 2-47 from 10 overs.

 Earlier, Hurricanes resumed from their overnight total of 215 for nine and were bowled out inside the first hour.

 Pacer Nicholson Gordon took the last wicket of Berridge for one and finished with 2-54 from 20.4 overs.