KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC — Any hopes Jamaica Scorpions harboured of winning the Regional four-day championship disappeared here Sunday when they were handed a comprehensive eight-wicket defeat by Windward Islands Volcanoes inside three days.
Resuming the penultimate day at Arnos Vale Stadium on 248 for eight in their second innings, Scorpions were bowled out for 262, leaving Volcanoes with an uncomplicated target of 96 for victory.
Tyrone Theophile then stroked 36 and veteran left-hander Devon Smith, 23 retired hurt, as the hosts strolled to just their third win of the campaign while handing Scorpions their fourth loss.
Hoping to extend their fightback earlier in the day, Scorpions only managed to add a futher 14 runs before being dismissed.
Fabian Allen, unbeaten on 72 overnight, added another five runs before becoming the second of two wickets to fall to off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who finihed with seven for 91 – his 37th five-wicket haul in first class cricket.
Jerome Taylor was bowled with the third ball of the morning for one while Allen perished via an lbw decision. He faced 95 balls in 128 minutes and counted nine fours and a six.
Volcanoes were then put on course for victory by Theophile and Smith who posted 41 before the latter was forced to retire hurt, and Jerlani Robinson (19) helped extend the opening stand to 81 before Scorpions finally got the breakthrough.
The defeat was the third in four outings for Scorpions since the competition resumed last month.