Alick Athanaze and Joshua Da Silva provided a promising preview of their form with unbeaten half-centuries during the West Indies’ opening match on their England tour, which ended in a draw against the First-Class Counties Select XI on Friday.
Athanaze, scoring 66 not out, and Da Silva, with an unbeaten 51, led the West Indies to declare their second innings at 196 for five during the rescheduled tea break on the rain-affected final day of the three-day match at the Kent County Cricket Ground.
The Counties Select XI, set an improbable target of 163 to win in the final session, and reached 30 for two before stumps were drawn. Uncapped pacer Jeremiah Louis, filling in for the injured Kemar Roach, made an impact by getting opener Harry Singh caught behind for a 12-ball duck. Johann Layne, from the Cricket West Indies Academy squad, also took a wicket, catching Jamal Richards behind for six, before both teams agreed to end the match.
Solid preparation despite weather challenges
“Barring a bit of adverse weather, we have managed to get a lot of solid cricket played over the last three days, so we are generally happy with what has happened on the tour so far,” West Indies assistant coach Jimmy Adams told CWI Media. “What we would have wanted to get from the time spent out in the middle, we have gotten. The weather has been kind to us, we know that it could get a little bit rough [in England], but all in all, we are very happy with what the weather has allowed and the facilities we have been given, and what the guys have been able to produce.”
The West Indies squad now heads to London to continue their preparations for the first Test against hosts England, starting Wednesday at Lord’s. Adams emphasized the importance of this practice in unfamiliar conditions, especially for the batsmen.
“I think it is important that they [the batsmen] get as much ‘live’ practice as they can in conditions that a lot of them are not familiar with,” Adams added. “I would say that irrespective of anywhere they have travelled outside of the Caribbean, a lot of them have not toured England before – some have – but a lot of the batters haven’t, so [this tour match] was an opportunity for them to get as acquainted with conditions as possible before they run into the international opposition, and I think they have done it pretty well.”
Match highlights
Earlier in the day, Athanaze and Da Silva shared an unbroken 91-run partnership for the sixth wicket after rain-delayed play, with the visitors resuming from their overnight score of 57 for two. Opener Mikyle Louis contributed 28 runs but was one of three wickets to fall within half an hour when play resumed after a 2 1/2-hour weather delay, leaving the West Indies at 105 for five.
Athanaze’s resistance spanned two-and-a-half hours at the crease, featuring 11 fours from 99 balls. Da Silva supported with six fours from 69 balls over an hour and a half. Athanaze reached his half-century off 62 balls by clipping pacer Jamal Richards through backward square leg for a single.
The second Test of the series starts on July 18 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, followed by the third Test on July 26 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
