Blackwood’s ton put Scorpions in front

May 26, 2022 Sports

CWI Regional Frist-Class C/Ships

By Sean Devers in Trinidad
In association with WD Hotel & Mall Charity
& Dave’s West Indies Imports

Guyana Harpy Eagles, who replaced the injured Antony Bramble and Nail Smith with Vishaul Singh and Kevin Sinclair, were on the back foot at the end of the opening day of their CWI Regional First-Class Championship game against Jamaica Scorpions at the Diego Martin Sports Complex ground yesterday.
Jamaica batted all day to reach 282-6 off 90 overs with West Indies batter Jermaine Blackwood unbeaten on 110 from 251 balls with 14 fours and a six.
With him was Aldan Thomas not out on 35 from 40 balls with eight fours, while Alwin Williams had earlier scored 51 from 113 balls with eight fours and shared in a 112 fifth wicket stand with Blackwood.

Jermaine Blackwood defends during his century. (Brandon Corlette Photo)

Veersammy Permaul, who had one wicket and Gudakesh Motie (2-39) were the Guyana’s best bowlers, while Keemo Paul also bowled well.
Kevin Sinclair, who was on a hat-trick, was very expensive and finished the day with 2-74 as was pacer Demitri Cameron in his second match at this level.
In ideal conditions for batting, Jamaica Scorpions won the toss and elected to bat on a good track and lush green and lightning fast outfield and by Lunch had reached 93-3 with Jermaine Blackwood on 37 and Paul Palmer on 12.
In bright sunshine with a bit of Sahara dust blowing above the ground, Leroy Lugg (5) skied a square drive off Cameron, in his second game, and was taken at deep point by Motie running back to point with the score on 17.
Blackwood joined fellow Test batsman John Campbell who got going with a couple of imperious cover drives which was followed up with a glorious cut past point for four.
The left-handed Campbell favoured the sweep when Sinclair bowled on leg stump and played some attractive drives and the 50 was soon posted in the 16th over.
But with the score on 62 Sinclair struck twice in two balls; with Campbell trapped LBW playing across a straight ball after making 37 from 58 balls with seven boundaries and a double back flick from the off-spinner celebrated the wicket.
Sinclair pushed Orin Williams on the back foot and trapped him plumb in front for a first ball duck to be on a hat-trick as Scorpions had slipped from 62-1 to 62-3.
Paul Palmer and Blackwood took the Scorpions to Lunch with Blackwood on 37 and Palmer on 12.
After the interval, the 100 was brought up in the 33rdover as Blackwood and Palmer continued to build the partnership with sensible batting.
But with the score one short of 100, Motie had his 12th wicket of the tournament when he removed Palmer for 18, but that was the last success for the Guyanese before Tea as Blackwood reached his 48th First-Class fifty from 126 balls with his seventh boundary and celebrated with another square driven four.
The pair was kept on a tight rein by the pair of left-arm spinners from Albion (Motie & Permaul) but Sinclair who bowled too fast, released the shackles when Alwin Williams cut him for consecutive boundaries.
At Tea the score was 166-4 with Blackwood on 66 and Williams on 33 and the partnership already worth 67.
After the break, Blackwood stroked Sinclair magnificently through the covers for two fours while Williams sweetly cover drove Cameron for four before he was dropped by the Keeper Tevin Imlach to get consecutive boundaries.
Williams reached his maiden fifty from 110 balls with his eighth boundary off Cameron before he was removed by Motie at 211-5.
Derval Green joined Blackwood and reached the boundary twice in his 13 before he was caught by Johnson at slip off Permaul at 236-6.
Blackwood soon reached his eighth century, while Thomas counter-attacked the bowling and by the close had hit eight fours in his innings and to extend the stand to 46.
Today is the second day and play will start at 10:AM.