Scorpions Suffer Initial Defeat in West Indies Championship

The Jamaica Scorpions suffered their second consecutive defeat in the West Indies Championship, falling to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by five wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Jewel Andrew’s unbeaten 62 steered the Hurricanes to victory, chasing a modest target of 156. Despite early inroads by Scorpions bowlers Marquino Mindley and Gordon Bryan, Andrew and Keacy Carty’s 59-run partnership stabilized the Hurricanes’ innings, ensuring a comfortable win. The Scorpions’ bowling efforts were ultimately insufficient to defend their total, and the Hurricanes secured their second victory of the tournament.

Simultaneously, the Barbados Pride secured a dominant innings-and-54-run victory over the West Indies Academy at Kensington Oval. Resuming the day needing 131 runs to avoid an innings defeat, the Academy’s efforts were in vain despite Carlon Bowen-Tuckett’s unbeaten century (103). Jomel Warrican’s six-wicket haul (6-104) and Ramon Simmonds’ four wickets (4-43) spearheaded the Pride’s bowling attack, dismantling the Academy’s batting line-up and securing a comprehensive win. This marks the Pride’s first victory in this year’s championship.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles also registered a victory, defeating the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) by eight wickets at the Guyana National Stadium. The defending champions staged a remarkable comeback after trailing for a significant portion of the match. Their bowlers produced a clinical performance in the CCC’s second innings, dismissing them for a paltry total after they had established a seemingly comfortable lead. Veerasammy Permaul’s four wickets, along with contributions from Ronaldo Alimohamed and Shamar Joseph, orchestrated the CCC’s collapse. The Harpy Eagles then cruised to victory, with captain Tevin Imlach’s 80 and Matthew Nandu’s unbeaten 69 guiding them to their target of 165.

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes achieved a comfortable victory against the Jamaica Scorpions, chasing down their target of 156 with five wickets to spare. Jewel Andrew played a crucial role, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 62. Despite the Scorpions’ early breakthroughs, the Hurricanes’ middle order, led by Andrew and Keacy Carty, consolidated their innings and ensured a steady chase. This win marks the Hurricanes’ second consecutive victory in the tournament, highlighting their strong start to the season.

The Barbados Pride dominated the West Indies Academy, securing a resounding innings-and-54-run victory. The Academy, resuming their innings with a deficit, crumbled under the pressure exerted by the Pride’s bowling attack. Despite a fighting century from Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, the Academy’s batting line-up could not withstand the consistent pressure applied by Jomel Warrican and Ramon Simmonds. Warrican’s six wickets and Simmonds’ four proved decisive, dismantling the Academy’s resistance and bringing the match to a swift conclusion. This victory serves as a strong statement of intent from the Barbados Pride.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles demonstrated their resilience by completing a come-from-behind victory against the Combined Campuses and Colleges. After trailing for a significant portion of the match, the Harpy Eagles’ bowlers engineered a dramatic turnaround, dismissing the CCC cheaply in their second innings. Veerasammy Permaul’s four-wicket haul proved instrumental in restricting the CCC and setting up a manageable target for the Harpy Eagles. Tevin Imlach and Matthew Nandu then ensured a smooth chase, guiding their team to a comfortable eight-wicket victory, further solidifying their status as defending champions.