Warrican grabs five wickets to leave contest between Pride and Scorpions level

A five wicket-haul by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican helped Barbados Pride share the spoils at the end of the first day of their third round match against the Jamaica Scorpions in the West Indies Championship on Wednesday.

Playing at Sabina Park in Jamaica’s capital Kingston, the 31-year-old Warrican finished with five for 62 as Jamaica Scorpions were bowled out for 269.

In reply, Barbados reached 15 without loss, 254 runs in arrears heading into Thursday’s second day at the storied venue.

Sent in earlier, Scorpions were carried by a career-best unbeaten 97 from Romarine Morris, while opener Carlos Brown and Test left-hander Kirk McKenzie both chipped in with 40 runs apiece.

Chadwick Walton (5), who made a century in the last round, was an early casualty when he fended at a short ball from fast bowler Jair McAllister (3-69) for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to take a one-handed catch diving in front of first slip.

Brown, who struck seven fours off 105 balls and McKenzie, who faced 79 deliveries and counted five fours, then put on a crucial 75 for the second wicket to get Scorpions to lunch with no further loss at 71 for one.

Brown perished after the break, caught at first slip off McAllister and McKenzie followed soon afterwards, lofting Warrican into the lap of long on.

Scorpions then slumped to 113 for five before Morris led the revival in a 75-run, sixth wicket stand with captain Jermaine Blackwood (18) and then in a 46-run, seventh wicket partnership with Peat Salmon, who made 24.

All told, Morris struck 10 fours and three sixes in a knock lasting 126 deliveries.

Meanwhile, in the south-east, 27-year-old Darel Cyrus in only his second first class match after making his debut last week, claimed six for 72 as the Windward Island Volcanes sent Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners tumbling for 204 all out at Chedwin Park in St Catherine.

The Volcanoes elected to bowl first, following a delayed start due to an impaired outfield.

Demario Richards top-scored with 46, Damel Evelyn got 43, captain Jonathan Carter struck 31 and Test batsman Shamarh Brooks made 29, but Cyrus accounted for two of the four as he scythed through the middle order.

CCC lost Kirstan Kallicharan for one with as many on the board, but were then revived thanks to Evelyn who put on 43 for the second wicket with Brooks and 40 for the fourth wicket with Carter.

Richards then arrived to add to the CCC resistance before he was bowled by Cyrus, after facing 104 balls and striking three fours.

Only three balls were possible in the Windward Islands Volcanoes reply before bad light ended play, with no runs yet on the board. (CMC/RB)