The Jamaica Scorpions’ winless streak of eight games in the CG United Super50 Cup finally came to an end on Saturday when they defeated the West Indies Academy by 80 runs via the DLS method at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St. Augustine.

The Scorpions, after winning the toss, were bowled out for 250 in 48.1 overs.

Kirk McKenzie led the way for the Scorpions with 90 off 92 balls including 13 fours and a six while skipper John Campbell made 39 and Jermaine Blackwood 33.

Left-arm pacer Jediah Blades took 4-46 from eight overs for the Academy and was supported well by Joshua Bishop (3-35 from 10 overs) and Johann Layne (2-40 from 9 overs).

The Academy’s original target of 251 from 50 overs was revised to 236 off 43 overs after a rain delay when the Academy were 89-3 after 16 overs.

They were eventually dismissed for 155 in 28 overs thanks to three wicket hauls from Marquino Mindley, Brad Barnes and Jeavor Royal.

Academy captain Teddy Bishop made 61 off 60 balls while Rivaldo Clarke and Johann Layne chipped in with 35 and 29*, respectively.

Full Scores:

Jamaica Scorpions 250 off 48.1 overs (Kirk McKenzie 90, John Campbell 39, Jermaine Blackwood 33, Jediah Blades 4-46, Joshua Bishop 3-35, Johann Layne 2-40)

West Indies Academy 155 off 28 overs (Teddy Bishop 61, Rivaldo Clarke 35, Johann Layne 29*, Marquino Mindley 3-6, Brad Barnes 3-22, Jeavor Royal 3-44).

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has awarded full-time, one-year contracts to 30 young players as part of its ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging talent in the region.

For the first time, the Men’s Academy cohort will be based full-time at the CWI-owned Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua, while the Women’s Academy players will continue their high-performance development in their home territories with regular training camps at CCG throughout the year.

This year marks a significant step for the Men’s Academy, with 15 players under the age of 23 receiving dedicated, year-long coaching and training. These young men will have access to world-class resources, including a dedicated technical team, as they prepare for the rigors of regional and international cricket.

The Women’s Academy, which was launched during the 2023/24 season, continues to offer young female cricketers critical development opportunities.

Additionally, the 15 women awarded contracts for this season will benefit from specialized training with Talent Pathway coaches and ongoing high-performance initiatives in their respective territories and CCG, as well as experiencing an international tour.

Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, emphasized the importance of both programmes.

“The CWI Academies are instrumental in bridging the gap between junior and senior levels, ensuring that both men and women receive the support they need to succeed internationally. By focusing on holistic development and providing tailored, high-performance programming, we are accelerating the growth of our emerging players and securing a bright future for West Indies cricket,” Bascombe said.

West Indies Academy player Johann Layne delivers a ball v Ireland

The Men’s Academy continues to play a vital role in developing young cricketers, with three graduates from last year’s cohort earning franchise contracts. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes on-field skill enhancement as well as off-field elements like personal development, leadership training, and media engagement.

At the same time, the Women’s Academy continues to demonstrate CWI’s strong commitment to growing women’s cricket. In line with CWI’s broader strategic goals, the Women’s Academy program emphasises regional development, with contracted players receiving tailored support in their home territories, training camps at CCG and international series, giving them the tools they need to advance their careers.

These contracts, which run from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, are a critical part of CWI’s long-term vision to ensure both male and female players are well-prepared to represent the West Indies on the international stage.

Men’s Academy Contract awardees: Ackeem Auguste, Jediah Blades, Joshua Bishop, Teddy Bishop, McKenny Clarke, Rivaldo Clarke, Mavendra Dindyal, Nathan Edward, Justin Jaggersar, Johan Layne, Zishan Motara, Michael Palmer, Kelvin Pitman, Raneico Smith, Carlon Tuckett

Women’s Academy Contract awardees: Asabi Callendar, Jahzara Claxton, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Briana Harricharan, Shawnisha Hector, Trishan Holder, Djenaba Joseph, Nyia Latchman, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Steffie Soogrim, Kate Wilmott

The Barbados Pride, defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles and the Windward Islands Volcanoes all look set to close out round three of the 2024 West Indies Championship with outright wins while the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force are locked in an interesting battle with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes ahead of Saturday’s fourth and final day.

First at Sabina Park where the Pride had the Jamaica Scorpions reeling in their second innings at 220-8 off 63 overs at stumps, a lead of just 100 runs.

The Pride had earlier amassed 389 all out off 120 overs after starting the day 315-6. Kraigg Brathwaite, who entered Friday 129* wound up making 142 while Shane Dowrich finished with 44 after entering the day 19*.

Derval Green ended up with 4-78 off 31 overs while Peat Salmon picked up 3-94 from 34 overs for the hosts.

Jamaica’s second innings saw a number of batsmen get off to good starts but none were able to get a big score. Abhijai Mansingh has led the way with 54, his fourth first-class fifty, while Leroy Lugg (43), Kirk McKenzie (39) and Carlos Brown (35) also chipped in.

Debutant Shaquille Cumberbatch has led the charge with the ball for the Pride with 4-22 off nine overs while Kevin Wickham has picked up 2-26 from seven overs.

Full Scores: Jamaica Scorpions 269 all out off 78.4 overs (Romaine Morris 97*, Carlos Brown 40, Kirk McKenzie 40, Jomel Warrican 5-62, Jair McAllister 3-69) & 220-8 off 63 overs (Abhijai Mansingh 54, Leroy Lugg 43, Kirk McKenzie 39, Carlos Brown 35, Shaquille Cumberbatch 4-22, Kevin Wickham 2-26)

Barbados Pride 389 all out off 120 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 142, Kevin Wickham 63, Shane Dowrich 44, Jonathan Drakes 31, Derval Green 4-78, Peat Salmon 3-94)

Elsewhere in Jamaica, at Chedwin Park in St. Catherine to be exact, the Combined Campuses and Colleges ended day three 271-6 in their second innings, leading the Windward Islands Volcanoes by just 80 runs.

The Windwards, after entering Friday 359-8 off 100 overs, went on to post an imposing 395 all out off 105.4 overs in their first innings.

Kavem Hodge, who entered the day 131*, carried his bat through the innings on his way to a career best 158* off 251 balls including 16 fours and a six.

Romario Greaves ended up with 5-142 off 38 overs for the CCC.

With the bat, Jonathan Carter almost got his second century of the season, being dismissed for 94 to lead the CCC second innings scoring, so far.

Greaves, who is having a fine all-round showing, ended day three on 62* off 117 balls including five fours and two sixes.

Earlier, opener Damel Evelyn followed up his 43 in the first innings with 56 in the second.

Shamar Springer has taken 2-33 in 13 overs for the Volcanoes.

Full Scores: Combined Campuses & Colleges 204 all out off 71.3 overs (Demario Richards 46, Damel Evelyn 43, Darel Cyrus 6-72, Gilon Tyson 3-32) & 271-6 off 81 overs (Jonathan Carter 94, Romario Greaves 62*, Damel Evelyn 56, Shamar Springer 2-33)

Windward Islands Volcanoes 395 all out off 105.4 overs (Kavem Hodge 158*, Sunil Ambris 120, Romario Greaves 5-142, Jediah Blades 2-35, Govasta Edmond 2-54)

Moving to the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua where the defending champions, Guyana Harpy Eagles, are on the brink of a dominant victory over the West Indies Academy.

The Harpy Eagles entered Friday 165-5 off 65 overs, leading the Academy by 178 runs. They went on to pile up a massive 415-7 declared leaving the Academy needing a massive 429 to win.

Kevin Sinclair, the hero with the ball in the first innings, led the way with a magnificent 165* off 182 balls, his first century in first-class cricket, including 26 fours. Kemol Savory also batted well for a 68-ball 58 including eight fours and a six.

Ronaldo Ali Mohamed and Veerasammy Permaul also provided useful cameos at the end of the innings with 318 and 29*, respectively.

Ashmead Nedd was the pick of the bowlers for the Academy with 5-97 off 45 overs.

At stumps, the Academy reached 161-7 off 40 overs, needing a further 268 runs for victory on Saturday.

West Indies Under-19 representative Jordan Johnson led the way with 54 against 3-32 off eight overs from Isai Thorne, who also represented the West Indies at the recently concluded ICC U-19 World Cup in South Africa. Sinclair has also picked up 2-30 from 11 overs in the second innings.

Full Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 175 all out off 54.3 overs (Ronaldo Ali Mohamed 30, Matthew Nandu 28, Joshua James 4-43, Johann Layne 2-27, Joshua Bishop 2-31) & 415-7 dec. off 112.1 overs (Kevin Sinclair 165*, Kemol Savory 58, Kevlon Anderson 49, Ashmead Nedd 5-97)

West Indies Academy 162 all out off 49 overs (Rashawn Worrell 58, Joshua Bishop 51, Kevin Sinclair 4-45, Veerasammy Permaul 3-15, Gudakesh Motie 3-31) & 161-7 off 40 overs (Jordan Johnson 54, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 34, Isai Thorne 3-32, Kevin Sinclair 2-30)

Finally, we go to Warner Park in St. Kitts where the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force were 285-6 at stumps on day three, leading the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 104 runs.

The Red Force entered the day 48-0 off 18 overs replying to the Hurricanes first innings total of 318.

Jyd Goolie continued his good form with the bat this season with 64 to lead the Red Force charge so far.

Jason Mohammed (49), Tion Webster (38), Cephas Cooper (36), Terrance Hinds (34) and Captain Joshua Da Silva (32) all got starts but weren’t able to carry on to a big score.

Rakheem Cornwall has led the Hurricanes bowling do far with 3-56 off 29 overs while Jeremiah Louis has picked up 2-70 from 18 overs.

Full Scores: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 137 all out off 60.2 overs (Jyd Goolie 30, Collin Archibald 3-28, Jeremiah Louis 3-38, Rakheem Cornwall 2-5, Daniel Doram 2-32) & 285-6 off 108 overs (Jyd Goolie 64, Jason Mohammed 49, Tion Webster 38, Cephas Cooper 36, Terrance Hinds 34, Joshua Da Silva 32, Rakheem Cornwall 3-56)

Leeward Islands Hurricanes 318 all out off 98.2 overs (Jewel Andrew 87, Kieran Powell 65, Jeremiah Louis 41, Mikyle Louis 32, Anderson Phillip 4-62, Brian Charles 3-81)