Windies’ Da Silva unfazed by first-day hindrances
Although unable to play for the majority of the first day, West Indies Vice-Captain Joshua Da Silva says they’ll make the best of the remaining four days to seal the series win against Bangladesh in the second and final Test at Sabina Park.
The second day’s play bowls off today at 10:00 am with Bangladesh resuming on 69 for two.
In the first Test match on Jamaican soil in just over three years, only 30 overs were possible on Saturday’s opening day as a soggy pitch and outfield delayed the start by five hours. The surface underwent several inspections by the umpires before play was confirmed to begin at 3:00 pm, with Bangladesh electing to bat after the toss at 2:30 pm.
The Windies, who lead the two-match series 1-0, started brightly in front of the hundreds of supporters at Sabina Park as Kemar Roach took the wickets of Mahmudul Hasan Joy (3) and Mominul Haque (0) inside the first seven overs as the visitors were struggling at 10 for two.
However, opener Shadman Islam steadied the innings towards the close of play as he hit an unbeaten half-century off 100 balls. Shadman and Shahadat Hussein, with 12, will resume today’s action.
Da Silva, though, is confident the Windies can make the breakthrough and take control of the match.
“We still have four days left, so there’s still a lot of play in this Test match, a lot of time, so we don’t need to rush anything,” he said. “For us, it’s about getting those 10 wickets and then seeing what the total is and trying to beat that. Hopefully we put enough on the board so we can bowl them out again. It’s cricket at the end of the day, we have to play it ball by ball, and we start again.”
Shadman was dropped twice before making his way to 50 with Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Alick Athanaze unable to hold on.
However, Da Silva says they won’t be dwelling on the missed chances.
“It happens, nobody crosses the line saying they’re going to drop a catch; everybody gives a 100 per cent,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I drop catches, the skipper drops catches, everybody has dropped a catch in their life, it’s not going to be the first and it’s definitely not going to be the last, so it’s about how do we get the next one moving into [today] it’s going to be crucial, so we’ll put that behind us and come back again.
With two wickets on Saturday, Roach made it 50 wickets in total in all matches against Bangladesh and is now just one wicket away from 280 wickets in the longest format.
Da Silva credited Roach and hailed his impact on the team’s performances.
“Kemar is a legend, we call him senior pro and there’s a reason for that — because he keeps producing day in, day out. He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior, so he’s somebody the other guys really look up to and get a lot of information from, so he’s leading the way in all forms,” he said.
SCOREBOARD
BANGLADESH 1st innings
Mahmudul Hasan Joy c +DaSilva b Roach 3
Shadman Islam not out 50
Mominul Haque c +DaSilva b Roach 0
Shahadat Hossain not out 12
Extras (lb3, nb1) 4
TOTAL (two wickets; 30 overs) 69
Yet to bat: Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Ranaina.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-10.
Bowling: Roach 7-2-20-2, Seales 7-5-2-0, Shamar Joseph 4-1-10-0, Alzarri Joseph 4-0-13-0, Greaves 5-1-11-0, Hodge 2-0-9-0, Brathwaite 1-0-1-0.
Toss: Bangladesh.
Umpires: Asif Yaqoob, Khumar Dharmasena.
TV Umpire: Nitin Menon.
Reserve Umpire: Zahid Bassarath.
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.