Scorpions beat Jaguars by seven runs

Jamaica Scorpions pulled off what turned out to be a tense seven-run win over reigning champions Guyana Jaguars in the fourth round of the Regional Four-day championship on Sunday at Providence.

Set 182 for an outright win, Jaguars resumed on 155-9 and last pair Veerasammy Permaul and Keon Joseph chipped away at the target to give the home side hopes of a miraculous win.

However, just when it seemed the Jaguars last pair would pull off victory, Derval Green struck Permaul on the pad and the umpire raised the dreaded index finger.

The dismissal ended a fighting last wicket stand of 44 in exactly 21 overs between Permaul, whose 28 spanned 103 balls, and Joseph, who stuck around for 39 deliveries for his 11 not out.

Debutant off-spinner Pete Salmon ended with 7-57. Despite the defeat, Permaul had a memorable game, taking match figures of 10-84 and making 35 and 28.

Guyana Jaguars next face Windward Islands Volcanoes from February 13 at the National Cricket Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada.