BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Fast bowler Keon Harding’s maiden five-wicket haul ripped apart Jamaica Scorpions as they crashed to a crushing 216-run defeat to Barbados Pride here Sunday.
Resuming the last day of the final round contest needing a Herculean effort to avoid defeat, Scorpions found no such resolve after being set 350 for victory, and tumbled to 128 all out – about three-quarters of an hour into the final session at Kensington Oval.
Left-handed opener John Campbell top-scored with 28, Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood got 21 and West Indies limited overs all-rounder, Rovman Powell, 20, as the Scorpions batting struggled for the second time in the match.
Harding, in his fifth first class match, took five for 66 while left-arm seamer Dominic Drakes (2-11) and pacer Justin Greaves (2-11) ended with two wickets apiece.
The defeat for Scorpions was their fourth of the season while the victory for the hosts was only their third but ensured they ended the campaign in second spot.
Earlier, left-handed opener Shayne Moseley completed his second career hundred as Pride declared at 169 without loss, after resuming the day on 147.
Moseley, starting on 87, made exactly 100 not out, an innings that spanned a shade over three hours, required 173 deliveries and included 11 fours and a six.
His senior partner, Test star Kraigg Brathwaite, added eight to his overnight 50, hitting six fours off 105 balls overall.
After rain prevented play in the first session, Pride declared 31 balls into the second session, leaving the visitors with just under two sessions to survive.
And they showed no indications of doing so especially after Chadwick Walton fell to a catch at the wicket off Harding in the seventh over for seven with 29 on the board, and Andre McCarthy followed soon after for one, caught at second slip by Shamarh Brooks off pacer Chemar Holder.
Two balls later with a single run added, Campbell, who faced 40 balls and struck five fours, was also caught at the wicket off Harding, to leave the Scorpions on 42 for three.
Blackwood and Paul Palmer (4) put on 20 for the fourth wicket before both perished in the space of 11 balls with seven runs added, as Scorpions slumped to 69 for five.
Powell and Fabian Allen (17) looked to be taking the visitors safely to tea in a 28-run sixth wicket stand when Allen fell on the stroke of the interval, cutting Greaves to substitute Haydn Walsh Jr at point.
Tottering on 97 for six at this stage, there was to be no recovery as Scorpions lost their last four wickets 36 runs after the break.
