Green, King half-centuries leave Jaguars in spot of bother on day 1

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

– Rutherford grabs 3, Scorpions 320-8

By Brandon Corlette

Jamaica Scorpions are the happier team at the end of day one with 320-8 on the board, with Test centurion Jerome Taylor still to bat. Derval Green and Brandon King hit contrasting half-centuries while Sherfane Rutherford grabbed three wickets on an eventful opening day.
Earlier, Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson won the toss and opted to field first, making two changes from last round’s starting XI. Christopher Barnwell and Sherfane Rutherford were included while Clinton Pestano and Keon Joseph were excluded. Scorpion’s openers Chadwick Walton and Oraine Williams went out to bat, as the third ball of the morning, bowled by Romario Shepherd, went to the boundary. Jaguars got their first wicket when Shepherd found the edge of Williams’ bat with the score on 13-1 in 4.4 overs. Williams was out caught at first slip by

skipper Johnson, who completed a sharp low catch.
Reifer shared the new ball as Walton and Brandon King looked to consolidate, with rain in sight. At 17-1 in 5.5 overs, rain interrupted play with Walton on seven and King was yet to score. The players made their way onto the field after the first rain interruption. Walton was cautious in his stroke-play while King was in a no-nonsense mode.
King danced down the track and hit Gudakesh Motie for four to the long-off boundary for his first boundary. The right-handed King took on Veerasammy Permaul cutting one behind point for four in the 17th over. He replicated the shot, this time off the front foot, hitting Motie to the cover boundary.
The first six of the match was hit when King used his feet to good effect and hit Motie over the long-off boundary, in the 18th over, Permaul, bowling from the northern end, removed Walton for 14 from 45 balls, with the score on 48-2. Walton was looking to turn the ball into the leg-side, but the ball took the edge and found Johnson. However, Walton was disappointed in Umpire Joel Wilson’s decision as the ball looked to have hit his pad, on the way into Johnson’s palms.
Another rain break took place, the heavens opened up at 48-2 in 18.1 overs, and

the umpires were forced to take an early lunch. King remained unbeaten on 24 from 48 balls with three fours and one six at lunch, while Jermaine Blackwood was the next batsman in. Blackwood and King mixed aggression and defence as the elegant King brought up his eight First-class half-century.
King failed to convert a good start as he was bowled all over the place by Sherfane Rutherford for 51 from 96 balls, hitting eight fours and one six. The 24-year-old King, who scored twin fifties against the Volcanoes this season, played on the wrong line as the ball swung back sharply, hitting the off-stumps. After the 46-run partnership between King and Blackwood ended, Guyanese Assad Fudadin came in at number five to bat.
The 33-year-old left handed Fudadin, who hails from Rose Hall Town, looked rock solid for the Jamaica Scorpions. Rutherford continued from the southern end in his first spell, bowling at some good speed. Fudadin hit boundaries at will, timing Shepherd through the backward point and gully region. In the process, Blackwood and Fudadin survived some close calls, but the duo saw the Jamaica Scorpions reach 100, losing only three wickets.
Fudadin, who scored his 5000th run in First-Class cricket in the last round, was eventually removed by Rutherford when he was looking to hit the ball over the infield down the ground, but was out caught at mid-off by Shepherd. The big Berbician, Shepherd, completed a brilliant running catch to see the back of Fudadin, who scored a quick 23. Fudadin’s 23 came off 24 balls including five elegant boundaries.
The promising 38-run partnership between Fudadin and Blackwood ended with the score on 132-4 off 37.2 overs. Rutherford kept coming and the brisk right-arm fast bowler removed Blackwood, who was out caught brilliantly by Christopher Barnwell at second slip. It was a testing line and length that saw Rutherford reaping success; Blackwood faced 65 balls and hitting six fours in his prosperous innings of 44.
Scorpions captain Paul Palmer and Windies limited-over player Rovman Powell were at the crease with the score on 144-5; the Jamaicans had to rebuild the innings. Powell, who lacked patience throughout his innings ,was the next batsman dismissed for 17 from 25 balls, including three boundaries. The right-handed Powell was out caught by Rutherford off the bowling of Permaul when he skied one into the 30-yard area on the off-side.
The Jamaican team were 172-6 in 50.3 overs; Palmer was partnered by Kenroy Williams as the Jaguars had the edge in the afternoon session. At the tea interval taken at 15:15, Scorpions were 196-6 after 60 overs; Palmer was unbeaten on 18 while Williams was unbeaten on 11. The second session was eventful, Scorpions scored 148 runs and lost four big wickets; three belonged to Sherfane Rutherford.
It was the final session of the opening day; Jaguars put an end to the 56-run partnership between Palmer and Williams. The left-handed Scorpions Captain was out, caught by Bramble off the bowling of Motie for 29 from 85 balls, hitting five fours. Scorpions were 228-7 in 67.5 overs, but Kenroy Williams rode his luck after he was dropped in the slip-cordon by Johnson.
Two runs later, Scorpions slipped to 230-8 when Williams was out for 33 from 60 balls hitting six boundaries. He was out caught behind by Bramble off the bowling of Motie. Derval Green and Dennis Bulli looked to push the Scorpions to 300 on the opening day. Green was the aggressor, hitting the bad balls to the boundary. He took the mickey to Johnson in an over that cost 17 runs; Green smashed two sixes down the ground and one four in the eventful over.
The pugnacious Green continued to play his shots in fearless fashion and he reached his third First-Class half-century with a pull shot off Shepherd. Green and Bulli ended the opening day with 59 and 30 respectively, in a 90-run unbroken partnership. Bowling for the Jaguars, Rutherford was the pick of the bowlers with 3-52 while Permaul and Motie had two wickets each. Romario Shepherd had one wicket in a tough day in the field. The first ball on day two will be bowled off from 10:00h local time.