Thu | Dec 7, 2023

Barnes impresses in opening Super 50 practice games

Published:Thursday | September 28, 2023 | 12:10 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
Opener Steven Wedderburn (right ) walks off the pitch after being caught behind by wicketkeeper Daniel Beckford (centre) off the bowling of Derval Green for seven, during the Jamaica Scorpions second practice game at Chedwin Park yesterday. Looking on is p
Lennox Aldred
Opener Steven Wedderburn (right ) walks off the pitch after being caught behind by wicketkeeper Daniel Beckford (centre) off the bowling of Derval Green for seven, during the Jamaica Scorpions second practice game at Chedwin Park yesterday. Looking on is pacer Ojay Shields.

MIDDLE-ORDER BATSMAN Brad Barnes is signalling his intention to be in the Jamaica Scorpions Super 50 squad for this year’s championship, scoring a century and a half-century in the first two practice games at Chedwin Park to help select the squad for the regional tournament which gets under way on October 17 in Trinidad and Tobago.

On Tuesday, the right-handed Barnes scored a vigilant 75 runs off 109 balls with six fours and two sixes, to help the Nkrumah Bonner-led Team A to 252 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.

Opener Kirk McKenzie also showed good form with 95 from 121 balls, with nine fours and three sixes. Seamer Derval Green was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 15 runs.

In reply, the Peat Salmon-led Team B managed 148 for nine in 37.4 overs, with wicketkeeper Romaine Morris scoring an unbeaten 52 from 73 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Left-arm seamer Shalom Parnell did the brunt of the damage with three wickets for 20.

In yesterday’s second game, Barnes fared even better with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 106 from 121 balls, with seven fours and five sixes, in helping Salmon’s Team B to 258 all out in 48.5 overs.

Wicketkeeper Daniel Beckford chipped in with 39, against three wickets for pacer Sheldon Cottrell.

Team A reached 39 for three after 10 overs when rain ended play, with fast bowler Ojay Shields removing McKenzie and Jermaine Blackwood for nought and nine, respectively.

Head coach Andrew Richardson says the early signs are good as the Scorpions look to defend their title.

“I thought there were a lot of positives coming out of these first two games, with some of our young players getting good scores, which is pleasing to see. What is also pleasing to see is our fast bowlers displaying good skills in the Power Play,” said Richardson.

The Scorpions squad will in the next couple of days go through some physical work as well as conduct medicals before engaging in another two practice games next week at Kensington Park, which will feature some of the returning Jamaican players, who took part in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League.