A total team effort was the key – Powell

Jamaica Scorpions captain Rovman Powell said a total team effort was the catalyst for the team's remarkable win against the Barbados Pride which booked a place in the semi-finals of the Regional Super50 Cup for the Jamaican franchise.

It was a case where the Jamaicans rose from the dead, after being 87 for eight in their innings, to post 218. The Barbados franchise was then cruising at 152 for four in their run chase before they were pegged back by hat-trick in a six-wicket haul from Andre McCarthy, who snatched the 'Pride' from the Bajans, who were all out for 167 in a 51-run loss.

An elated Powell praised the all-round effort of the entire team for the victory, which was their second in five matches to date.

"We believed, and I think Barbados let us back into the game when they let us score so many runs in the back end. Cricket is about momentum, and we took that momentum into our bowling display, and I think it was just a total team effort," said Powell.

Powell lamented the continued poor showing by the team with the bat but praised the effort once again of the lower order, who came to the rescue of the team in the second consecutive game.

Key batters

"Our lower order has been doing very well in the nets, and over the years, when Jamaica do well in 50 overs cricket, it's the lower order who generally score the runs and not the top half. Going into the semi-finals, however, the key batters have to buckle down and start putting some scores on the board," added Powell.

The Scorpions face a tough semi-final opponent in the unbeaten Trinidad & Tobago team, who beat the Scorpions by five wickets in their preliminary-round game.

While praising the bowling effort of the team, Powell believes the key to getting one back over on the Red Force is to get the entire unit clicking in all facets.

"We can't be dropping simple catches and fielding the way we are fielding. Yes, the batting is of some concern, but the top order and middle order, including myself, have to try and get starts and score some runs."

The Scorpions and the Red Force will face off on Wednesday in semi-final one at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.