T&T Red Force batsman Joshua Da Silva scored an unbeaten 133 on the third day of the West Indies four-day clash at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on Wednesday.
Playing for the West Indies A against the West Indies team, the right-hander who resumed on the third day with 60 to his name, counted a further 73 before he ran out of partners. His effort took his team from the perils of 108/5 to an eventual 272 all out.
At the close, the West Indies were replying on 112/7 and in serious pain.
However, the day belongs to Da Silva, 22, who has been picked as a reserve on the current tour. He looked in fine fettle as he reached his century with a clip to the mid-wicket boundary.
He forged an entertaining partnership of 77 with Alzarri Joseph for the seventh wicket that took his team to an eventual 272 all out. Da Silva who carried his bat through the innings batted for 367 minutes, faced 248 balls and struck 17 fours. Joseph's cameo of 38 included five fours and a six.
When West Indies responded, they found themselves in early trouble as T&T's Shannon Gabriel ran through their top order. The right-arm fast bowler reduced them to 9/3 early in the piece.
Barbadian Kyle Mayers, who has very good in West Indies four-day championships, was unbeaten at 40 as his team closed on 112/7. Mayers has so far batted for 78 minutes, facing only 38 balls and striking four fours and two sixes.
Gabriel ended the day with 3/34 and will be looking to make further inroads when play resumes at 6 am T&T time, today. This serves to be the final warm-up match for the West Indies as they prepare for their Test series against England.
The West Indies will be defending the Wisden Trophy that they won in the Caribbean, last year. The opening Test match takes place at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from July 8.
TEST SCHEDULE
First Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton, July 8-12
Second Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, July 16-20
Third Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, July 24-28
SCORES
West Indies A 272 all out (Joshua Da Silva 133no, Alzari Joseph 38, Preston McSween 3/28, Chemar Holder 2/35) vs West Indies 112/7 (Kyle Mayers 40, Shannon Gabriel 3/34).
Teams
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shai Hope, Shane Dowrich, Roston Chase, Rakheem Cornwall, Shamarh Brooks, Oshane Thomas, Anderson Phillip, Marquino Mindley, Chemar Holder, Preston McSween, Keon Harding.
West Indies A: Shane Mosely, Joshua Da Silva, Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder (captain), Raymond Reifer, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Jomel Warrican.