Veerasammy Permaul wrecked Jamaica Scorpions’ batting for the second time in the match with a career-best spell and set up five-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars for an emphatic seven-wicket win in the 2019-20 West Indies Championship on Saturday.
The diminutive left-arm spinner captured 8-18 from 11.4 overs to propel the Jaguars to a morale-boosting victory, after they bowled out the Scorpions in the final hour before the scheduled close on the third day of sixth round matches in the Championship, and quickly knocked off a modest target.
Scores: Scorpions (216 & 111) lost to Jaguars (304) & 24-3 by seven wickets at the Trelawny Multiplex in Florence Hall, Jamaica
Permaul ended the match with 15-77 – the second-best match figures in the modern era of domestic West Indies first-class matches (1966 onwards) – making him a shoo-in for the Player of the Match award and carried his tally of scalps for the season to 45.
No such finish appeared on the cards, when Scorpions captain John Campbell, the West Indies opener, cracked a typically flamboyant 66 and was busy dominating a first wicket stand of 75 with Alwyn Williams.
Once Permaul bowled Williams with his second delivery however, the Scorpions batting unravelled and the hosts lost their remaining nine wickets for 26 in the space 20 overs with off-spinner Kevin Sinclair securing 2-26 from 13 overs to complete the demolition.
Set 24 for victory, the Jaguars reached their target, but off-spinner Jamie Merchant claimed 3-8 from 4.4 overs before Christopher Barnwell hit the winning run to give the Jags their first victory in three matches.
Earlier, Scorpions pacer Marquino Mindley wound up the Jaguars first innings, after they resumed from their overnight total of 287 for six. After rain restricted the morning period to two overs, Merchant removed left-hander Vishaul Singh for his overnight 93 with the second ball of the day.
Mindley followed up with the scalps of Permaul, Sinclair and Nial Smith and finished with 3-68 from 23.2 overs, but he could not prevent the Jags from claiming another batting point. (CWI)
Match points: Jaguars 12, Scorpions 0
First innings batting bonus points: Jaguars 3 (completed), Scorpions 0 (completed)
First innings bowling bonus points: Jaguars 3 (maximum achieved), Scorpions 3 (maximum achieved)
Pace bowling bonus points: Jaguars 0.2, Scorpions 0.8
Total points: Jaguars 18.2, Scorpions 3.8