McKenzie keeps faith in Scorpions batting after Sabina Park collapse

Jamaica Scorpions opener Kirk McKenzie says he still has full faith in his side's batting line-up despite being asked to follow on by Barbados Pride in their West Indies Championship first class fixture at Sabina Park.

The hosts closed Monday on 22 for one in their second innings, having earlier been bundled out for 142 on a pitch that began offering generous turn and bounce. With Barbados Pride having posted 439 in their first dig, the Scorpions remain 275 runs in arrears.

Scores: Barbados 439 (112 overs); Jamaica 142 (51 overs) and 22 for one (11 overs).

McKenzie, not out on seven at stumps, conceded that slipping from 61 without loss to under 150 all out was a setback, but insisted the dressing room knew what was required.

"It's a disappointing position for us as a team but we know what's the plan and what it will take to bring us to the next [stage] of the tournament," the left-handed opener told the Jamaica Observer.

"We just have to come back tomorrow and the following day as a batting unit and to better what he did in the first innings. I am still very confident in the batting unit — that [display] in the first innings is a one-off bad innings," he added.

Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop, who finished with four for 31 to complement off-spinner Roston Chase's five for 28, said even the bowlers were caught off guard by how much the second-day surface gripped, after Pride's batsmen had cashed in on Sunday.

"We [Roston and I] were getting wickets from both ends so we just tried to keep bowling in partnerships to keep the pressure on. We were surprised that it spun this much today," Bishop said.

He was quick to point to his batsmen for setting up the dominant position.

"The game is set up really good for us; kudos to our batsmen for putting us in the position that we are in. Then it was good for the bowling group to bowl them out and now we have to come back and finish the job tomorrow," Bishop told the Observer.

Earlier in the day, Barbados resumed on their overnight 346 for five, with Chase on 82 and wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher on 40. Boucher was the first to fall, edging out for 50 from 64 balls — an innings that included five fours and a six — to pace bowler Marquino Mindley.

Chase did not linger long after, cramped for room on a pull off another short ball from Mindley and pouched by Abhijai Mansingh. He had struck 12 fours and a six in his 102-ball knock.

Bishop and Jomel Warrican both fell for four apiece to seamer Odean Smith as the Pride slipped to 376 for nine. However, a stubborn last-wicket alliance between all-rounder Shamar Springer and number 11 Jediah Blades frustrated the home side, before Mindley ended the innings with a vicious yorker that uprooted Blades's middle stump. Blades made 21 and Springer finished unbeaten on 45.

In reply, the Scorpions' left-handed opening pair of John Campbell and McKenzie once again provided a steady platform, as they have done frequently in the series. But with the score on 61, Campbell played down the wrong line to Chase and was bowled for 36.

King, returning to the side after nursing a groin issue, was also bowled by Chase for one, leaving Jamaica wobbling on 67 for two. McKenzie then departed for 31 from 86 balls, driving Blades to Bishop at point.

Bishop chipped in by removing both Brad Barnes for two and left-hander Javelle Glenn for 17 as Jamaica slid to 111 for five. Chase trapped Mansingh leg before for five and had Salmon caught at short leg first ball. Smith negotiated the hat-trick ball but his partner Romaine Morris fell to Bishop for 19, leaving the Scorpions 132. Smith was then dismissed by Bishop, with Chase wrapping things up by accounting for Khari Campbell.

Following on in bright conditions, the Scorpions were rocked immediately when skipper Campbell was bowled by Bishop, who had been handed the new ball, in the very first over. King, unbeaten on 15, and McKenzie then survived a probing spell of just over 10 overs to ensure no further damage before stumps.