Jamaica maul TT in historic beating

Sent in in the day/night affair at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Scorpions amassed a mammoth 434 for four off their 50 overs – a record for regional 50 overs cricket and the ninth highest total in the history of List A. Jamaica returned to put the Red Force out of their misery, routing the Denesh Ramdin- led squad for just 142 to romp to victory by 292 runs.

Scorpions were fired by Walton’s top score of 117 while Test batsman Blackwood hit an unbeaten 108 as Scorpions stunned the two-time defending champions with an exhibition of astonishing hitting.

The run-spree began in an entertaining opening stand of 174 between Walton and Taylor, was sustained courtesy of a 95-run second wicket stand between Blackwood and Walton and capped off in a jaw-dropping third wicket partnership of 163 between Blackwood and Powell.

Walton smashed nine fours and seven sixes off 96 deliveries while Blackwood faced just 88 deliveries and belted six fours and sixes.

The left-handed Taylor gave Red Force a flying start, racing to his half-century in the 11th over off 35 balls but was first to fall when he sliced a drive to Kjorn Ottley at point off off-spinner Jason Mohammed in the 22nd over.

All told, the American struck eight fours and five sixes.

Walton’s fifty came in the 13th over off 32 deliveries and required another 52 balls to reach triple figures, before falling lbw to leg-spinner Imran Khan in the 36th over.

Powell then joined Blackwood to rip apart the Red Force bowling and was within touching distance of century when he missed a heave at seamer Ravi Rampaul in the final over and was bowled.

Rampaul was the best bowler with two for 83. In reply, the Red Force stumbled to 142 all out in 26.3 overs, after losing wickets at regular intervals. Right handed Jason Mohammed was the only batsmen to offer resistance scoring an unbeaten 62, while Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin scored 27. Openers Evin Lewis and Kyle Hope got TT off to a solid start, but when they fell for 18 and 17 respectively TT never recovered. No other TT batsman got into double figures.

Rovman Powell demonstrated his all around ability grabbing 5/36 in eight overs with his medium pace. Also among the wickets for the Scorpions were fast bowler Jerome Taylor who snatched 3/27 in 5.3 overs and Reynard Leveridge who took 2/31.

Scores: JAMAICA SCORP IONS 434 for four off 50 overs (Chadwick Walton 117, Jermaine Blackwood 108 not out, Rovman Powell 95, Steven Taylor 88; Ravi Rampaul 2-83) vs RED FOR CE 141 off 26.3 overs (Jason Mohammed 62 not out, Denesh Ramdin 27; Rovman Powell 5-36, Jerome Taylor 3-27, Renard Leveridge 2-31)