During the four-day game, which ended on Sunday at Sabina Park, the Scorpions made 243 in response to the Hurricanes’ first-innings total of 164.
Set a modest victory target of 150 runs after bowling out the visitors for 228 in their second innings, the Scorpions crawled to victory at 150-7 on the penultimate day.
But despite being pleased with the victory, which was their third on the trot following a disappointing 10-wicket loss to Barbados Pride in the opening round, Bennett felt the middle-order came up short.
“We are happy about the win, but not pleased with our middle-order batting. But we showed some resilience to come back from 69-6 to post 243, and by extension win the game,” Bennett told the Jamaica Observer in a post-match interview on Sunday.
After four rounds in the season, the Scorpions remain in second-place on 50 points, three behind defending champions and current leaders Guyana Jaguars (53) who they will host at Sabina Park starting on Friday.
But the lead could once again be extended as the Jaguars were in charge of their fixture against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force on the final day yesterday.
“I think winning three consecutive matches will definitely help the confidence level of the team, and we definitely want to take that momentum into the Guyana game,” said Bennett.
The Scorpions batting has come in for plenty of scrutiny after misfiring in the 10-wicket loss away to Barbados Pride. They have now gathered momentum with a 30-run win over Windward Islands Volcanoes in Kingston and a six-wicket win away to Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, prior to Sunday’s win.
However, the top- and middle-order once again failed to contribute significantly in the first innings, with the exception of wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr who made 73 and Nikita Miller who made 51. Both were involved in a crucial 110-run, seventh-wicket partnership that laid the platform for the Scorpions’ victory.
New Captain Paul Palmer Jr, who scored a maiden first-class half-century when carrying his bat with an unbeaten 51, and David Bernard Jr who made 36 were the only standouts in the second innings as the batting survived some late drama.
Miller, the left-arm finger spinner, also stood out in the bowling department after taking four wickets in both innings to end with eight wickets in the match, while left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, who was playing his first game of the season, also came in for some praise after a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
“(Sheldon) Cottrell, Carlton (Baugh) and Nikita Miller played really well for us, so I must applaud them. Paul Palmer also batted well and it was good to see him bat through the innings, and that will do his confidence a world of good going forward,” Bennett noted.
