Nkrumah Bonner returned to form with a half-century but Jamaica Scorpions crashed to a four-wicket defeat to Windward Islands in the Regional Super50 Cup.
In the battle between the only two winless sides in the competition, Scorpions could only muster 158 all out in the 43rd over at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad, with Bonner top-scoring with 72 off 110 balls with five fours.
Sent in, Scorpions were routed by fast bowler Shermon Lewis (3-18) and leg-spinner Darel Cyrus (3-40).
Scorpions tumbled to 48 for four in the 12th over, recovered slightly through a 36-run, fifth wicket stand between Bonner and Brad Barnes (10), before losing their last six wickets for 74 runs.
In reply, Volcanoes eventually crawled over the finish line in the 37th over with Jeremy Solozano top-scoring with 40 from 75 balls, West Indies left-hander Alick Athanaze got 36 from 28 deliveries while Shamar Springer saw his side home with an unbeaten 24 off 45 balls.
Athanaze slammed halfdozen fours to inspire a 41-run, first wicket stand off 38 deliveries with Johnson Charles (13). But when four wickets tumbled for 30 runs, Solozano put on 40 for the fifth wicket with Sunil Ambris (15) and a further 24 for the sixth wicket Springer, who then kept his wits to see Volcanoes to victory.
The defeat was the fifth on the trot for title-holders Scorpions, leaving captain Rovman Powell lamenting his side’s woes.
“It’s tough. It’s been a tough season as a team but today the guys showed some fight, after scoring [158]. I think we really made a game of it,” the West Indies T20 skipper said.
Volcanoes, meanwhile, picked up their first win in five outings, but captain Andre Fletcher’s delight was tempered with disappointment.
“It’s a good feeling but I’m not happy, to be honest. It should be a convincing win,” he said.
“Yes, it’s good to have a win under your belt but at the same time, you don’t want to win games like this. You want to make sure you send a message to the other teams that you have to play.”
