Jamaica’s debutant all-rounder Abhijai Mansingh and Leeward
Islands all-rounder Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall produced some outstanding
displays as the Scorpions and Hurricanes battled to an exciting draw in
their opening-round West Indies Championship regional four-day match,
which ended at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) on Saturday.
Mansingh had a debut to remember, as the right-hander put in a
workman like performance with both bat and ball to help the Jamaica
Scorpions hold on for a draw against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
In fading light with a crowd of fielders around their bat, Mansingh (62
not out) and last man Patrick Harty Jr (1 not out) resisted the penetrative
and probing Hurricanes bowling in the last session of play, which ended
when late evening showers in fading light sent the players off the field with
Jamaica 200 for nine off 82 overs, chasing 268 to win.
But despite Mansingh’s heroic display, the Leeward Islands
squandered a great opportunity to win the match by dropping two crucial
catches off the impressive bowling of Cornwall.
In only the second ball he faced, last man Patrick Harty Jr, who was
on naught at the time, was dropped by Kieron Powell at silly point off the
bowling of Cornwall, with Jamaica on 194 for nine in the 73rd over.
Three overs later, Mansingh, who was on 62 at the time, was
dropped by Terrence Ward at first slip of Cornwall with Jamaica on 195 for
nine in the 77th over.
Mansingh, a late replacement for Alwyn Williams who was ruled out
of the match due to medical reasons, once again displayed his
temperament by top scoring with 62 not out from 209 balls, with eight fours
and a six.
The right-hander shared in five partnerships batting at number six,
and in one of those partnerships, he added a valuable 92 runs with Jamie
Merchant for the sixth wicket. The aggressive Merchant struck 47 from 56
balls with four fours and two sixes.
Once again, it was Rahkeem Cornwall who was the main destroyer,
grabbing his second five-wicket haul of the match.The burly off-spinner
picked up the wickets of Romaine Morrison for 22, captain Paul Palmer for
six, Merchant for 47, Akim Fraser for one, and Gordon Bryan for naught, to
finish with five for 41 and 10 for 95 in the match.
Earlier, it was Cornwall who also spruced up the Hurricanes’ second-
innings score, as his 85 from 95 balls helped the Leeward Islands to reach
their second innings total of 241 all out in 73.5 overs after resuming the
final day on 198 for seven.
Hayden Walsh Jr. chipped in with 23, while off-spinner Merchant
captured four wickets for 43 runs, Mansingh took two wickets for 30 runs
and Harty Jr. claimed two wickets for 56 runs.
The Leewards had won the toss and batted, making a first innings
total of 260 all out in 118.3 overs. Jeremiah Louis top scored with 78 not
out, captain Jahmar Hamilton struck 40 and opener Montcin Hodge scored
37.
Marquino Mindley claimed three for 28, Mansingh took three for 47
and Gordon Bryan picked up two for 52.
In reply, Jamaica were dismissed for 234 in 82.4 overs in their first
innings. Opener Leroy Lugg top scored with 79, Mansingh struck 56 and
captain Palmer chipped in with 47. Cornwall grabbed five for 54, pacer
Sheno Berridge picked up two for 25 and Colin Archibald captured two for
37.
Meanwhile, Pacer Nial Smith, bagged five second-innings wickets to
lead the Guyana Harpy Eagles to a 183-run win over the Barbados Pride in
their opening match at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
The West Indies four-day competition will continue with the second
round of matches from 8th to 11th February in Antigua and Barbuda and
Grenada.
The Barbados Pride will meet the Jamaica Scorpions at Coolidge
Cricket Ground; Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will travel to face the
Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and the
Guyana Harpy Eagles will take on the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the
Grenada National Stadium.
