(WICB) Kingston, Jamaica – Narsingh Deonarine found the perfect formula of flight and variation as he bowled the West Indies into a match-winning position today – the third day of the second Digicel Test match at Sabina Park.
The wily off-spinner recorded the best figures of his Test career as West Indies bowled out New Zealand for 154 in their second innings.
Deonarine completed a marvellous spell with 4-37 off 22 overs – bettering his previous Test-best effort of 4-53 against Australia in Barbados in April. He was backed up by fellow off-spinner Sunil Narine, who took 3-19 and pacer Tino Best with 2-44.
Deonarine started the day with two wickets and added two more in the morning session, as West Indies took eight wickets for 95 runs to dominate the day’s play. He has been outstanding with the ball this year and has so far taken 15 wickets in six Test matches at an impressive average of 19 runs each.
“I’m happy with the way I’m bowling. I have been asked to do a job for the team and I just go out and do what I have to and do what I know. I just want to get my chance to play and take that chance whenever I get it. I bowled well in the first-class tournament earlier this year for Guyana and I brought that form with me into the Test matches against Australia and also into this series against New Zealand,” Deonarine said.
“I kept focussed on the line and length I wanted to bowl. We talked about it over the last couple of days, how as a team we would need someone to step up at the right time when a big performance was required. Today, the skipper showed confidence in me and gave me the overs to bowl, so I knew I just had to land it in the right areas.”
The 28-year-old added: “We have been working with the coach to get the ball into that ‘zone’ where it would be uncomfortable for the batsmen to play, especially on this pitch. We have worked on the right lengths to the right-handers and how to force them into making mistakes.
“I got the ball to turn a bit. Looking at their batting, I always felt variation would the key .. we kind of outfoxed them … I bowled it slower in the air and then slipped in the quicker ball when I saw them hanging back on the backfoot. We worked them out and that made it harder for them to play shots. We planned well.”
Deonarine’s effort left the Windies with 206 runs for victory. By the close the home side reached 135-4 – requiring another 71 for victory which would give them a 2-0 series win. Marlon Samuels led the batting with a polished 52 off 103 balls with seven delightful fours, to follow-up the career-best 123 he made in the first innings on Friday. The knock further demonstrated the class and maturity of the 31-year-old and took him to 589 runs in eight Test innings this year.
Resuming tomorrow will be the reliable Shiv Chanderpaul on 20 not out and nightwatchman Kemar Roach on 10 not out. They have so far put on 22 runs for the fifth wicket. Deonarine is next man in, but he backed the overnight pair to take the West Indies close to the required target.
“We have the best batsman at the crease and we all know what Shiv can do. He has done it many times before and he looks in the right touch to get the runs for us. Roach went in and played well, so I believe they can continue for us tomorrow and get the job done.”
