Volcanoes hold upper hand over Scorpions

Right-arm medium pacer Ryan John, on the inaugural day of the West Indies Championship, delivered a stellar performance to hand visitors Windward Islands Volcanoes the upper hand against hosts Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park yesterday.

Bowling from the Courtney Walsh end, John, under favourable conditions, secured a five-wicket haul from 13 overs while conceding 43 runs to restrict the Scorpions to a meagre 159 in just 41 overs.

The Scorpions, sent in to bat first, struggled against the seam bowling prowess of John and his teammate Shamar Springer from Barbados, who bagged three wickets.

Opening pacer Sherman Lewis set the tone by dismissing Scorpions' opener Chadwick Walton for a mere four runs. Subsequently, the Scorpions lost crucial wickets, including West Indies' Test batsman Kirk McKenzie and veteran Nkrumah Bonner, to be precariously perched at 27 for three.

Scorpions eventually succumbed despite a 53-run partnership between wicketkeeper Romaine Morris, who made 35 and Abhijai Mansingh, which brought some stability to the innings.

In response, the Windward Islands Volcanoes ended the day at 157 for two, trailing by two runs in the first innings, with eight wickets in hand.

Johann Jeremiah played a crucial unbeaten knock of 66 after facing 103 balls and striking nine fours and a six. Sunil Ambris is not out on 30, while captain Kimani Melius contributed 31 and opener Jeremy Solozano 26.

Meanwhile, at Chedwin Park, there was no play between the Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and Barbados Pride because of a wet outfield caused by a ruptured water main.

At Conaree Cricket Centre in Basseterre, St Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, facing Guyana Harpy Eagles, were 215 for four, with Jason Mohammed scoring 100 not out and Tion Webster getting 50. Ronsford Beaton claimed two for 39, and Veerasammy Permaul two for 42.

At Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes posted 137, with Jeremiah Louis top scoring with 45, as Joshua James claimed three for 11 and Ashmead Nedd two for three. Cricket West Indies Academy replying, reached 60 for two with Mbeki Joseph 30 not out.