The ongoing four-day West Indies Championship match between Jamaica Scorpions and Barbados Pride at Kingston’s Sabina Park has been heavily disrupted by wet weather, leaving the two sides with contrasting but confident outlooks heading into the third day of play.
By the close of play on the truncated second day, Barbados Pride had responded to Jamaica’s first-innings total of 457 all out with a solid 125 for one from 27 overs, leaving them well placed to challenge for the all-important first-innings advantage that often proves decisive in four-day first-class cricket.
The day began with Jamaica Scorpions resuming from their overnight score of 354 for three wickets, with the visiting Barbados side delivering a disciplined bowling performance that quickly dragged the hosts into trouble. Within the first session, Jamaica lost four wickets for just 34 runs, sliding from 354 for three to 388 for eight. Overnight batsman Brad Barnes fell for 40 at 367 for five, Abhijai Mansingh was out for a duck just one run later, fellow overnight batter Romaine Morris departed for 25, and tailender Peat Salmon added only three to the score.
It was a dogged, attacking late-wicket partnership between all-rounder Odean Smith and number nine batter Ojay Shields that pulled Jamaica past the 400-run mark and up to a final total of 457. Smith, in particular, delivered a thrilling half-century, hitting five fours and four sixes in a 70-ball 54 to anchor a 68-run ninth-wicket stand that transformed the innings. Shields eventually fell for 14 as Jamaica were dismissed all out in 103 overs.
Barbados pace bowler Shamar Springer turned in the standout bowling performance for the Pride, finishing with impressive figures of three wickets for 99 runs from 24 overs. The 28-year-old all-rounder credited tighter execution of pre-match plans for his side’s improved showing on the second day, after a sloppy opening day display that allowed Jamaica to reach 331 for three at stumps on day one.
“We had clear plans and we stuck to them a little longer than on Sunday, and we executed better as a result,” Springer explained.
In response to Jamaica’s formidable 457, Barbados openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Shayne Moseley got the innings off to a flying start, putting on a fluent century opening stand against what Smith described as inconsistent, overly aggressive bowling from the Scorpions. The partnership was broken at 105, when off-spinner Salmon deceived the attacking Moseley to bowl him for a 60-ball 53.
At the tea break, Brathwaite, the former West Indies Test captain, remained unbeaten on 51 from 87 deliveries, with Jonathan Drakes not out on 17 at the other end. However, persistent rain that set in during the interval wiped out the entire final session of the day, forcing umpires to call off play early.
When play resumes at 9:30 on the third morning, Brathwaite and Drakes will return to the crease to build on Barbados’ solid start. For Jamaica, Smith says the side must adjust its approach if it is to dismiss Barbados before they can overhaul the first-innings total. The 29-year-old all-rounder admitted the Scorpions made a key error in their first day of bowling, prioritizing attacking wicket-taking over patient line-and-length pressure.
“I think we tried to blast them out for most parts instead of being patient and staying on a good length for longer,” Smith told Jamaica Observer. “They got away but I think we have to come back tomorrow and work on the patience game. They have lost only one wicket but we still have a big lead and they have a long way to go if they are going to get first innings advantage. I think we have the quality to bowl them out before they even get close to 457.”
For his part, Springer remained optimistic about the Pride’s chances, saying the opening partnership had given his side the perfect platform to push on for a first-innings lead.
“I think it’s a good start, a good platform to have. We have some quality batters to come, but hopefully the guys at the crease can take us all the way through to get first innings and then we would assess from there,” he said.