Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Opener John Campbell grabbed his first Test half century in two years and only the third of his international career as the West Indies completed a seven wicket win over Bangladesh at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, just 26 minutes into the fourth day.
Set a target of 84 runs in the second innings, the Maroon Men closed Day Three on 49/3 with Jamaican compatriots Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood unbeaten on 28 and 17 respectively.
(Copyright AFP)
The duo were still there at the end too. Blackwood added nine to his overnight score, while Campbell, who debuted for West Indies in January 2019, added 30—and finished the contest with a six off Najmul Shanto. Campbell’s 58 runs came off 67 balls with nine 4s and the solitary 6.
It means West Indies already have an unassailable lead in the two match Test series.
“[It is] very pleasing to see Campbell get a half-century,” said West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite. “He has good ability.”
Pacer Kemar Roach was the man of the match. The 33-year-old was only named in the squad on the eve of the First Test, as he passed a late fitness test to prove his recovery from an injury sustained while playing for Surrey in the English County Championship.
Roach struck early on the First Day, as he removed opener Mahmudul Joy and Najmul for ducks and Bangladesh went on to tie a Test record of six ducks in one innings. Bangladesh were skittled out for just 103 runs from 32.5 overs.
(Copyright AFP/ Getty Images)
Roach took five wickets in the second innings, including Mahmudul’s, as Bangladesh posted 245 runs from 90.5 overs. But it was not enough to recover from a miserable opening day—in which Brathwaite was also dropped twice, before he went on to score 94 runs (from 268 balls, 9×4).
“Roach is a champion and he adds a lot to the team,” said Brathwaite. “[The wins] motivate us to push ourselves more.”
Roach’s seven wicket haul against Bangladesh moved him to 249 Test wickets, and joint-sixth on the West Indies all-time list alongside the iconic Michael Holding. Holding’s tally came from 60 matches while Roach has played 72 Tests and counting.
“It feels nice to be level with him,” said Roach. “I am quite big on stats. Feels good to be on level with him.”
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan suggested that the toss was “significant” but admitted his outfit need to apply themselves better.
(via Cric Telegraph)
“Going into lunch 6-wickets down wasn’t a good thing,” said Shakib. “That first session killed the match for us. We have been having a lot of collapses and it doesn’t help the bowlers.
“All of the bowlers bowled their hearts out. Nurul showed a lot of character. I was quite positive while batting and I wasn’t thinking what the ball would do.
“If it was there to be hit, I would.”
West Indies are now unbeaten in their last three home Test series, after a 1-1 draw with Pakistan and a 1-0 win over England. Brathwaite’s troops also managed three wins, two draws and one loss from their last six Test matches in the Caribbean.
They will seek to make it four wins and a sweep over Bangladesh when the Second Test bowls off on Friday 24 June at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.
(Copyright AP)
(Summarised scores)
Bangladesh: 103 all out (32.5 overs) (Shakib Al Hasan 51, Tamim Iqbal 29; Jayden Seales 3/33, Alzarri Joseph 3/33, Kemar Roach 2/21) & 245 all out (90.5 overs) (Nurul Hasan 64, Shakib Al Hasan 63; Kemar Roach 5/53, Alzarri Joseph 3/55)
West Indies: 265 all out (Kraigg Brathwaite 94, Jermaine Blackwood 63; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4/59, Khaled Ahmed 2/59) & 88/3 (22 overs) (John Campbell 58*, Jermaine Blackwood 26*; Khaled Ahmed 3/27)
West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite has stepped down as Test captain and is expected to play in the upcoming home Read more
“[…] For all he has done—not just for cricket, but for the advancement of our Caribbean civilization—Dr Keith Rowley ought Read more
As many as 15 of the 74 players selected to play for West Indies in Tests since 2000 never got Read more
I support Melbourne Cricket Club president Mark Neita’s view that the best white ball players should play Test cricket for Read more
When the Champions Trophy tournament begins in Pakistan today, West Indies will not be among the eight competing teams. But Read more
“[…] The issue with players from the West Indies and any non-Big 3 cricket nation (India, Australia and England) having Read more
