KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC — Jamaica Scorpions captain, Nikita Miller, said his side paid the price for their poor batting but also blamed the pitch for its role in the defeat to Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the seventh round of the Regional four-day championship here Sunday.
Playing in the day/night contest at Sabina Park, Scorpions were bowled out for 56 in their first innings — their lowest-ever total in the history of first class competition — to concede a lead of 15 runs.
Asked to chase 149 for victory after Hurricanes chalked up 133 in their second innings, Scorpions collapsed for 114 to lose by 34 runs.
“I am not happy. I am very disappointed because we shouldn’t have lost that game,” Miller lamented.
“We lost based on the fact that our first innings total of 56 runs was very unacceptable, even on that pitch, that total is very unacceptable.
“With that said, I think the pitch played a very huge role in the outcome because it was under-prepared at first-class status. But we could have batted a little better because the pitch was a little better for batting in the second innings, but I think we didn’t show enough fight and it led to the loss.
The defeat for Scorpions was their second on the trot since the resumption of the tournament earlier this month, after they also went down last week by seven wickets to two-time defending champions and tournament leaders, Guyana Jaguars.
Scorpions, who led the standings at the mid-season break for the Regional Super50, have now slumped to fourth on 63 points with three games remaining, and Miller told the Observer newspaper here his side needed to make the most of the upcoming fixtures even though the title was now virtually out of reach.
“Unfortunately, we are back at square one because we had a good run at the top of the season and in the Super-50, but like I said, we have to pick ourselves up, keep our heads up, believe in ourselves some more and try to finish the season on a high,” the left-arm spinner stressed.
“So I am expecting significant improvement going forward. I don’t believe we can win the title from here … mathematically it is possible, but it will require a high level of consistency in both bowling and batting departments.
Scorpions travel to Port of Spain to take on Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the eighth round of the tournament beginning Friday at Queen’s Park Oval.
