DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC- Coach of the Sagicor High Performance Centre Graeme West says he is relying heavily on his lower-order to save the day in the face of defeat against Bangladesh A.
West is banking on a partnership between Jahmar Hamilton and Yannic Cariah to trigger a rear guard action and force an unlikely victory, after another batting collapse on the third day yesterday left HPC in danger of losing their tour match.
Hamilton and Cariah survived the last 20 minutes of play on day three and offered a glimmer of hope with four second innings wickets standing going into the final day today.
“The current partnership is going to be very important. The Bangladesh A-Team really put a squeeze on us” said West.
“But if Hamilton and Cariah can get through the first 15 or 20 minutes in the morning, and start to score, as well as survive, then one big partnership can get us very close.”
Impressive spin bowling from Veerasammy Permaul and a half-century from Kyle Hope were undone, when left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib captured 4-27 from 14 overs, triggering another batting collapse.
Hope hit the top score of 52, Marlon Barclay made 33 and Andre Fletcher added 20, as the Sagicor HPC, chasing 239 to win, stumbled to 120 for six at the close on the penultimate day of the four-day match at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
Permaul had taken 4-44 from 27 overs, as Bangladesh-A were dismissed for 186 in their second innings about half-hour before tea.
“We still have some batting to come. Permaul has proven that he can be handy with the bat, while Jomel Warrican and Sheldon Cotterrell, at 10 and 11, provided us with a match-winning performance in one of our warm-up games before we left the Caribbean” West said.
“It is not beyond us, but it is going to be very difficult. It is a wonderful opportunity for two guys to be match-winners for us.”
West said the players had come to terms with how a single bad period could pressure a team into trying to save or win a match.
“The first innings was very disappointing, given how well we have bowled and fielded on the tour, and batted in the first game,” he said.
“It was the first session on this tour in which we let ourselves down, and Andre Fletcher apart, the guys did not perform and made elementary errors against the spin.”
However West praised the bowlers for keeping the Sagicor HPC in the match, dismissing the experienced Bangladesh A-Team for less than 200 twice.
