Scorpions fend off late problem to raise title

Jamaica Scorpions almost squandered a golden alternative however held their nerve in the long run to upset reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Pink Drive by three wickets and clinch their first Super50 Cup title in 11 years in Antigua Saturday night time.

Merely cruising at 150 for one in pursuit of 218 for victory within the day/night time remaining on the Vivian Richards Cricket Floor, Scorpions immediately misplaced their approach as soon as Chadwick Walton (80) and Andre McCarthy (55) perished inside 17 balls of one another with 5 runs added.

In reality, six wickets tumbled for 60 runs and when Peat Salmon (11) had his stumps shattered by left-arm spinner Khary Pierre (2-42) initially of the forty seventh over, the sport was broad open with Scorpions tottering on 210 for seven.

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Nonetheless, Jeavor Royal (one not out) pinched a single to brief third man to show the strike over to big-hitting all-rounder Odean Smith, who smashed the fifth supply over lengthy off for six to degree the scores.

Smith (13 not out) then skied the ultimate supply into vacant cowl to finish Scorpions long-running title drought and deny Pink Drive a second consecutive championship.

“I’m actually excited proper now. Odean Smith, I thank him very a lot for hitting that six – it launched a bit of stress,” mentioned an overwhelmed Royal, the youngest member of the squad at 23. “It’s an excellent feeling. For not profitable the championship for thus lengthy and coming and profitable it this 12 months, it’s a really nice feeling.”

Despatched in, Pink Drive buckled for 217 additionally off 47 overs, their batting failing to show up after their spectacular effort in final Wednesday’s semi-final once they surpassed 300 with ease.

Left-hander Yannic Cariah, batting at quantity six, top-scored with 43 from 45 balls with two fours and two sixes, combining in an important 56-run, sixth wicket stand with Akeal Hosein who lashed 4 fours in scoring 37 from 52 deliveries.

Kjorn Ottley had earlier scored 33 from 51 balls with a 4 and a few sixes, serving to to submit 46 for the primary wicket with fellow left-hander Amir Jangoo whose 23 got here from 36 balls and included 4 fours.

Jangoo’s demise, pulling captain Rovman Powell to backward sq. within the thirteenth over, sparked a slide that noticed 4 wickets tumble for 33 runs and left the innings stuttering on 79 for 4 within the twenty second over.

Pink Drive’s hopes rested on captain Nicholas Pooran however after surviving an opportunity on three when he was caught at brief mid-wicket off a Smith no-ball within the twenty fifth, the left-hander slashed at a brief supply within the bowler’s subsequent over and edged behind for eight.

Cariah and Hosein then carried the innings earlier than the final 4 wickets went down for 33 runs, new ball pacer Nicholson Gordon returning to complete with three for 51.

With Scorpions requiring simply over 4 runs per over, in-form West Indies opener Brandon King perished cheaply for 12 within the sixth over when he gloved a leg-side catch behind, pulling at a brief ball from speedster Shannon Gabriel with 24 on the board.

The setback was non permanent as veterans Walton and McCarthy batted beautifully in a 126-run, second-wicket partnership to place Scorpions in command.

Walton, 37, confronted 94 balls and punched eight fours and two sixes whereas McCarthy, 35, counted three fours and a six in an 88-ball knock.

The breakthrough got here on the finish of the thirty second over when Walton sliced leg-spinner Cariah to level, and McCarthy adopted quickly afterwards when he hoisted left-arm spinner Hosein into lengthy on’s lap within the thirty fifth over.

The plot thickened even additional when Alwyn Williams (3) holed out to deep mid-wicket within the thirty ninth and seamer Terrance Hinds claimed Powell lbw for 25 and yorked Dennis Bulli (2) in successive overs however Smith eased the strain to take Scorpions over the road.

-CMC