KING… hit 28 in Jamaica Scorpions’ losing effort (Photo: File Observer)
NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) – West Indies Academy routed favorites Jamaica Scorpions by 12 runs in a low-scoring contest here on Saturday to blow Zone B of the Super50 Cup away.
Keagan Simmonds dived to his left at short mid-wicket to account for the last wicket of No. 10 Jeavor Royal (3) off spinner Kevin Wickham as the Scorpions spectacularly folded for 170 in the 40th over chasing a modest 183 for victory. .
The Scorpions looked in complete control at 124 for three in the 25th over thanks to captain Rovman Powell (42), Brandon King (28) and Andre McCarthy (28) but left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (3-33) and Wickham ( 2). -33) moved through the lower order to ensure that the last seven wickets fell for just 46 runs.
Fast bowler Joshua James (3-19) had earlier rocked the order up front with a remarkable spell.
The West Indies Academy opened with a narrow defeat to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes last weekend and followed it up with a six-wicket loss to the Barbados Pride.
But Saturday’s win lifted them into third place, four points above the Pride on net rate.
Sent to the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, the Academy side were bowled out for 182 in the 45th over, with Wickham top-scoring with 46 off 55 deliveries and Kevlon Anderson (33) and opener Leonardo Julien (32).
They were struggling at 62 for three in the 19th over after off-spinner Jamie Merchant (2-33) struck twice, but Wickham and Anderson combined for a 75-run stand in the fourth over to level the innings.
Wickham hit three fours and a six to push the pace while Anderson played the anchor role with a single four in his 62-ball knock.
Once Anderson got on top of a left-arm spin from Royal (3-39) and was caught at full stretch by Nkrumah Bonner at deep mid-wicket, the innings collapsed as the Academy lost the last seven wickets for 45 runs.
Left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli was the main architect of the collapse, taking four for 32, including the wicket of Wickham in the 39th over – bowled attempting a reverse sweep.
In reply, West Indies batsman Brandon King hit 28 off 40 balls at the top of the order, but it was one of three wickets to fall to the impressive James, the Scorpion slumping to 50 for three in the 14th ball.
Powell arrived to hit five fours and a six in a quickfire 39-ball knock in a crucial 74-run partnership at the fourth wicket with McCarthy, who hit two fours in a 43-ball knock.
However, the tide turned in the Academy’s favor when seamer Young set McCarthy up with a direct chance at mid-on in the 26th over.
In another match, defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force bounced back quickly from defeat with a dominant seven-run win against Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Chasing just 190 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, they easily made the target, overhauling it in 43 overs with Test wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva top-scoring with 66.
Captain Nicholas Pooran (36 not out), opener Kjorn Ottley (36) and left-armer Darren Bravo (27 not out) were all vital to see the Red Force to their second win after their early setback to the Guyana Harpy Eagles of the week. .
