When day 2 of their 3-day warmup match concluded in the wee hours of Thursday, West Indies’ Test team were in firm control of proceedings against a Cricket Australia Select XI. Not only were the bowlers on song, but an unbeaten half-century from Joshua DaSilva led to the position of power, which saw the Men in Maroon piling on a 214-run lead, after bowling out Cricket Australia’s XI for 174 in what was an eventful day 2 of their practice match.
The Caribbean side ended day 1 on 251-8 with the Guyanese pair of Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie at the crease, but declared overnight and sent the home side in to bat first thing on day 2. The Aussies got an average start, losing the first wicket of Jayden Godwin for 18 from 39 to Shamar Joseph’s bowling.
They continued steadily, but three quickfire wickets before tea, and at the resumption for only 3 runs, was the beginning of their unravelling.
Joshua DaSilva and Kavem Hodge walking off after a 78-run partnership
Tim Ward top-scored with 50 from 88 deliveries before falling prey to Motie, while the next best score came off the bat of Bradley Hope, who struck 24 runs from 33 balls.
No other batter got past 20, as the Windies bowlers shared the wickets. Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph each had two wickets; while Motie, Sinclair, Akeem Jordan and Justin Greaves each had one.
Already with a 77-run lead, the West Indies would have begun their second innings on a good note, had Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s wicket not fallen for a duck in the first over. Nonetheless, DaSilva, who was promoted up the order, persisted at the other end. Kirk McKenzie came and went for 9 from 17 balls, while Alick Athanaze added 15 runs from 30 deliveries.
Joshua DaSilva raising his bat after a half-century
Kavem Hodge, however, after contributing a half-century in the first innings, stuck with DaSilva to see out the day’s play. By close of play, DaSilva had reached 55 off 95 balls, while Hodge remained on 44 from 67 deliveries.
As such, West Indies had accumulated 137-3 in 35 overs in the second innings.
Guyanese fast bowler Shamar Joseph shared his thoughts on his performance at the end of the day’s play: “Yeah, well, I just adjust to conditions, I just stick to the basics, the wicket, bowl much fuller and the ball do much for me. So, I just stick to the basics, hit areas, and be as consistent as much as I could,” he shared with CWI media in Australia.
Shamar Joseph
He added this about extras, “That’s just it. I think I was a bit too fast to the crease, so that’s what bring the no balls to me. So, I just adjust myself, get in back to my rhythm, and that work well for me today.”
The 3rd and final day of the warmup match continued on Thursday night and into Friday morning, while the West Indies will turn their attention to the official Test matches from January 17.
The first Test will run from January 17th to 21st (16th- 20th in the Caribbean), while the second is set to span January 25th to 29th (24th- 28th in the Caribbean).
When day 2 of their 3-day warmup match concluded in the wee hours of Thursday, West Indies’ Test team were in firm control of proceedings against a Cricket Australia Select XI. Not only were the bowlers on song, but an unbeaten half-century from Joshua DaSilva led to the position of power, which saw the Men in Maroon piling on a 214-run lead, after bowling out Cricket Australia’s XI for 174 in what was an eventful day 2 of their practice match.
