The Jamaica Scorpions’ hopes of securing a semi-final berth in the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-Day Championship took a heavy blow on Wednesday, as a sub-par batting performance saw them surrender first-innings honours to the bottom-placed Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St. Augustine, Trinidad.

Electing to bat first, the fifth-placed Scorpions could only muster a meagre 133 runs before being dismissed. Kirk McKenzie top-scored with 31, while Brad Barnes chipped in with 23 in an otherwise lacklustre display.

CCC’s bowling unit, led by the impressive Jaden Edmund, made light work of the Scorpions’ line-up. Edmund bagged a superb 5 for 59, while Larry Edward provided critical support with a miserly 3 for 6.

In response, CCC seized the momentum and closed Day 1 in a commanding position at 174 for 4, already holding a 41-run lead. Shaqkere Parris led the charge with a composed unbeaten 70, supported by opener Johan Jeremiah’s solid 69. Larry Edward remains not out on 11.

For the Scorpions, Brad Barnes returned to lead with the ball, taking 2 for 38. Peat Salmon and Marquino Mindley claimed a wicket apiece.

Scores at Stumps:
Jamaica Scorpions 133 all out
Combined Campuses and Colleges 174/4

Elsewhere Around the Grounds

At the Queen’s Park Oval, the much-anticipated top-of-the-table showdown between second-place Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and leaders Guyana Harpy Eagles remains finely poised. The Red Force ended the day on 214 for 7, thanks to a resilient unbeaten 57 from Jyd Goolie. Cephas Cooper added 50 at the top, while Khary Pierre chipped in with 38.

Over in Antigua at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, the West Indies Academy gained early control against the Windward Islands Volcanoes. The Volcanoes were dismissed for just 106, before the Academy replied with 107 for 5 at the close—already securing a 1-run lead. Teddy Bishop stood tall with an unbeaten 54, while Carlon Bowen-Tuckett contributed 45. Kenneth Dember was the pick of the Volcanoes’ bowlers with 2 for 23.

In the day/night encounter at Warner Park in St. Kitts, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes had an up-and-down day against third-placed Barbados Pride. After being inserted to bat, the Hurricanes reached 219 for 5 at one stage, before stumbling to 70 for 5 at stumps in the second innings. Jewel Andrew (66) and Kacy Carthy (55) were the main scorers, while Jomel Warrican led the Pride’s bowling with 3 for 49.