Having Jamaica Scorpions at 169/8 was exactly what the doctor ordered for USA but they failed to capitalise on the big opportunity to close out the innings as Jamaica tail-enders frustrated them by adding another 85 runs to the total which brought their downfall in their group match in Cricket West Indies Super50 Regional tournament.
Elmore Hutchinson (3/40) and Nisarg Patel (2/44) did all the hard work along with Roy Silva and Nosthusha Kenjige till the 40th over after which Odean Smith (30 n.o off 32) and Nikita Miller (52 n.o off 41) took the game away from USA as Jamaica reached 254/8 in their 50 overs.
Jamaica Scorpions top-order batsmen got among the runs but failed to convert them in big knocks as Chadwick Walton (25 off 18), Steven Taylor (22 off 43), Rovman Powell (20 off 31) and Andre McCarthy (38 off 48) failed to capitalise on their starts.
The chase was always going to be difficult against the Jamaican Scorpions bowling attack and USA got off to the worst possible start losing 3 early wickets to get reduced to 25/3 in the 13th over. Sunny Sohal (65 off 111) finally got among the runs and in the company of captain Ibrahim Khaleel (37 off 75), put on 73 runs for the 4th wicket before Sohal’s dismissal opened the floodgates for Jamaica bowlers to run through the rest of the batting line-up.
Elmore Hutchinson (18 off 18) showed off some skills with the bat but it was too late to mount any challenge as USA got bowled out for 156 in the 50th over to lose the contest by 98 runs. Jamaica bowlers had a field day as Christopher Lamont (2/20), Andre Russell (2/20), Nikita Miller (2/27), Odean Smith (2/39) and Pete Salmon (1/29) got among the wickets with Steven Taylor picking up the last wicket to complete the formalities.
A big missed opportunity for USA but plenty of positives from individuals in the line-up and it will need more team effort to win their remaining 5 group matches in the tournament.
