BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Jamaica Scorpions captain Rovman Powell welcomed his side’s first win in the 2019 Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup against Combined Campuses & Colleges on Tuesday.
But Powell said the hard work has just begun and the Scorpions needed to win the majority of their remaining games, especially one against either group leaders and hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes or regional powerhouse Barbados Pride.
Powell made 57 from 36 balls as part of a powerful batting display that propelled the Scorpions to their second highest ever total in West Indies Super50 Cup history of 330 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs.
Scorpions then overcame explosive batting from Jamaica-born left-hander Romaine Morris to clinch a 97-run win with West Indies fast bowler Oshane Thomas and left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli sharing six wickets.
Powell spoke to CWI Media following the game and said though the batting showed up, he still had a few concerns about the bowling...
On Scorpions winning their first game for the tournament:
It’s always good to get your first points in any competition. The batting unit stood up, but there are still a few concerns with our bowling in the first Power Play. The Marooners got off to a flying start, but we managed to pull things back. But the batting came good and 330 on any kind of surface, we would definitely take that.
On posting their second highest ever total in West Indies Super50 Cup history:
We are proud of that achievement and I am fortunate to have played in the two teams that have achieved the two highest totals for the Scorpions. I played when we made 434 for four against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force. It is now important for us to build on this batting performance for the remainder of this tournament.
On the importance of winning the game:
It was very, very important. It was a do-or-die game. If we had lost, we would have been in serious trouble in trying to make the semi-finals in Trinidad, so it was huge. We also have the rest of the games as “do-or-dies” and it is important we beat one of the leaders, whether it be Barbados Pride or Leeward Islands Hurricanes. We have to beat one of them to have a chance.
On his knock:
I would consider myself unlucky not to have got a score in the first two games, but I came out in this game with a few overs to spare and I got some runs. It is for me to try and develop a consistent pattern.
On how much confidence he drew from the innings:
It would be a big boost for my confidence. A lot is at stake. Hopefully, I can score some runs and move to the next level and regain a place in the West Indies squad.
On Romaine Morris:
He is a very good talent. It is just for him to continue and develop his skills further, and he will have a bright future. It is just for him to get into the right set-up and the Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners programme is a good place, as it has helped to refine a number of West Indies players over the years.
On Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners programme:
The programme is based in Barbados, which has some of the better facilities in the Caribbean, so it will be good for him to get into the Academy of Sports on the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies and do a lot of work with Floyd Reifer, who heads the Academy of Sports and who has recently been a West Indies head coach. He should be in good hands there.
On the bowling of Oshane Thomas in the tournament:
We have asked him for early breathroughs which he has not been able to achieve the way we would have liked, but whenever you give him his second spell, he comes back firing. What I have noticed about him is that he is bowling the old ball a little faster than the new ball and all the great West Indies fast bowlers of past times such as Sir Curtly Ambrose, their second spell was always dangerous, so he looks to be on a proper path.
On next game against Canada:
Not promising anything special. All we are looking to do is get full points. This will also be a must-win game for us. We must beat them. There is no doubt about it.
Source: CWI Media