HOPE DELIVERS PRIDE SUPER 50 TITLE

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – West Indies batsman Shai Hope struck his second hundred in three days as Barbados Pride crowned themselves Regional Super50 champions with a commanding 59-run win over a listless Jamaica Scorpions in the championship final here Saturday.

In a day/night contest at Coolidge Cricket Ground which failed to live up to the anticipated expectations of a thriller, Pride overcame a batting stutter to dominate the Scorpions with bat and ball, and pick up their second regional 50-overs title in four years.

The victory also made up for their disappointment in last year’s campaign when they lost to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the final.

Choosing to bat first, Pride were propelled to a competitive 271 for nine off their 50 overs by Hope’s 101, the 23-year-old’s third List A hundred.

Captain Jason Holder lashed an aggressive 69 off 47 deliveries while opener Kevin Stoute weighed in with 41 and Kraigg Brathwaite, 22.

Medium pacer Rovman Powell, strangely handed just three overs, picked up two for 27 while part-time off-spinner John Campbell claimed two for 35.

In reply, Scorpions were a shadow of the side that crushed Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Wednesday’s first semi-finals and stumbled and stuttered to a disappointing 212 all out in the 45th over.

They were down and out at 122 for seven in the 31st over until the impressive Powell opened his shoulders to slam 65 for 59 deliveries, to rally the innings.

Andre McCarthy weighed in with 30, Damion Jacobs got 28 and opener Chadwick Walton, 26, but Scorpions failed to string together any major partnerships in the top and middle order and lost their way.

Lanky left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn did most of the damage with three for 33 while seamers Jason Holder (2-28), Carlos Brathwaite (2-43) and Kemar Roach (2-54) all claimed two wickets each.

Summarized Scores:

PRIDE 271 for nine off 50 overs (Shai Hope 101, Jason Holder 69, Kevin Stoute 41; Rovman Powell 2-27, Jason Campbell 2-35)

SCORPIONS 212 all out off 44.3 overs (Rovman Powell 65, Andre McCarthy 30, Damion Jacobs 28; Sulieman Benn 3-33, Jason Holder 2-28, Carlos Brathwaite 2-43, Kemar Roach 2-54)

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