Sheldon Cottrell is better known for his fast bowling exploits but he emerged as the Jamaican Scorpions batting hero with two massive sixes off Romel Currency which eased the tension and then skilfully guided his team to a narrow nail-biting two-wicket victory over Barbados Pride in their Group A round-robin match at the Queen’s Park Oval last evening.Barbados Pride struggled to score freely against the Scorpions slow bowlers Damion Jacobs (10-1-38-3), Nikita Miller (8-0-20-1) and skipper John Campbell (10-0-32-2) as well as leftarm speedster Cottrell who finished three wickets for 18 from 7.5 overs.
The Barbadians got to 138 which were relatively too small a total to pressure the Jamaicans into attacking strokeplay in search of a crucial victory.
Despite two early strikes by off-spinner Ashley Nurse and an impressive 4-wicket haul by experienced leftarm spinner Suliemann Benn, Jamaica sneaked home to celebrate a tension-filled win thatkept them in second position with an additional bonus point.
Jamaica Scorpions were well in control and cruising at 105 for two with Andre McCarthy and Devon Thomas at the wicket. But Benn changed the complexion of the game with his wily stuff as he outfoxed both McCarthy (49) and Thomas (33), Tamar Lambert (0) and Aldaine Thomas (0) to leave the Scorpions scrambling for some oxygen to stay alive. Brandon King (8) and Damion Jacobs (0) were soon back in the pavilion and their scoreline was now 118 for 8.
However, their anxieties dissipated with Cottrell’s clean hitting and power sixes plus solid support from Miller. Cottrell picked up the “Man of Match” award with his three wickets and 16 vital runs at the end.
The other Group A encounter between defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and the ICC Americas carded for Shaw Park, Tobago was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of adverse weather and ground conditions.
By BRIJ PARASNATH in T&T