Jamaica Scorpions had two of the top three scorers in the 2022 CG Insurance Super50 that concluded on Saturday night with the Jamaican franchise beating Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by three wickets in a tense encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. .
Captain Rovman Powell ended the tournament with the highest total of 346 runs, just four more than Red Force captain Nicholas Pooran (342) and nine more than his teammate Brandon King (337). But it was the success of his players that led the Scorpions to their first regional 50-over title since 2012 when Tamar Lambert led Jamaica to victory.
Four Jamaican Scorpion bowlers are among the top 10 performers in the tournament – Odean Smith and Nicholson Gordon each took 15 wickets and shared the leading wicket-taker award with Red Force and former West Indies paceman Shannon Gabriel. Not far behind were spinner Dennis Bulli with 14 wickets and Jeavor Royal with 12.
Asked about the impact of Smith and Gordon, Powell said the two pace players were key to the team’s success this season.
“They were very, very important in the sense that every time I gave them the ball, they distributed it right throughout the tournament,” he said.
“As a captain, it’s great when you find players to give you wickets at crucial moments of the game and both of them have been fantastic throughout the tournament. Not the most fast bowling friendly wickets to be honest but they have been very good.”
Smith took his 15 wickets at an average of 19.26 and economy of 5.25 wickets while Gordon was slightly more expensive at 21.26 and economy of 5.94.
Bulli secured wickets at an average of 18.64 and economy of 4.75 while Royal took his 12 wickets at an average of 21.91 and economy of 3.92.
Meanwhile, the team has been praised by the Jamaica Cricket Association for its triumphant season.
The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) congratulates our senior men’s national team ‘The Jamaica Scorpions’ for winning the CG United Super 50 Regional Championship. This achievement is the end product of teamwork, intense preparation and exemplary leadership,” said the President Billy Heaven in a statement released Sunday.
“Under the sharp leadership of captain Rovman Powell and the guidance of coach Andrew Richardson and assistant coach Nikita Miller, the world witnessed the Jamaica Scorpions win five matches in a row. The collective performance of the entire team has done Jamaica proud.”
According to Heaven, strategic planning by the JCA that emphasizes a player-centric approach built an ‘outstanding squad’ that claimed the trophy in a year when Jamaica celebrates its 60th anniversary.th the year of independence.
“Cricket is known as a Gentleman’s Sport and on November 19, 2022, as the world celebrated International Men’s Day, the Jamaica Scorpions provided the perfect celebration of the day by winning the CG United Super 50 Championship in cricketing style,” Heaven said.
“This year Jamaica celebrates 60 years of independence and cricket has always been a rich part of our history and heritage. Therefore JCA is extremely proud that our senior team gave this gift to a proud nation on its diamond jubilee. Gentlemen, we raise our wands to you.”
