ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite narrowly missed out on three figures while left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican grabbed three wickets, on the second day of the four-day West Indies warm-up match here yesterday.
Replying to Roston Chase XI’s 326 at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Brathwaite’s XI ended on 242 for five with the right-hander top-scoring with 95.
Kavem Hodge, who toured Bangladesh but failed to make his Test debut, struck a compact unbeaten 59 while left-hander Paul Palmer ended on 31 not out.
Warrican, a key member of the Caribbean side’s Test attack in Bangladesh last month, claimed three for 52 including the key wicket of Brathwaite.
Resuming from their overnight 280 for seven, Chase’s XI passed the 300-run mark courtesy of a 50-run, eighth wicket stand between Jermaine Blackwood and Imran Khan.
Blackwood, on 18 at the start, made 34 off 64 deliveries with five fours while Imran Khan, resuming from his overnight three, slammed three fours and a six in 24 off 32 balls.
Left-arm seamer Preston McSween snatched two of the three wickets to fall to end with four for 64 while fast bowler Jayden Seales, who did not bowl on Tuesday, finished with three for 42.
In reply, left-hander Kieran Powell perished without scoring in the second over when he edged fast bowler Chemar Holder to Sunil Ambris at first slip, with only two runs on the board. Brathwaite then inspired a string of partnerships to repair the innings. Firstly, he put on 76 for the second wicket with Shamarh Brooks (19) as his side reached the lunch break on 55 without further loss.
Brooks, who spent just over 1-½ hours at the crease, eventually departed when he ducked underneath a short ball from pacer Nial Smith but left his bat hanging in the air, and deflected a skied catch to wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton.
All eyes fell on Shimron Hetmyer, especially after the left-hander’s exploits in the recent Regional Super50 Cup but then failing to make the white-ball sides after failing a fitness test.
However, he lasted 15 balls for his 12 in adding 25 for the third wicket with Brathwaite before he was bowled essaying an ugly cross-batted shot at Warrican.
Brathwaite played attractively, stroking 12 fours and a six off 156 deliveries and 3-¾ hours at the crease, dominating a 67-run fourth wicket partnership with Hodge.
Unbeaten on 91 at tea, he found himself bogged down afterwards and eventually suffered a rush of blood, charged Warrican and was neatly stumped. Hodge lost Joshua Da Silva cheaply for seven but found an ally in Palmer to add 55 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand.
The right-handed Hodge has so far counted six fours off 160 balls in just under 3-¼ hours while Palmer’s stay has so far lasted an hour and included four fours. The match serves as preparation for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting later this month, and as a trial for selection.
