T&T Red Force batsman Joshua Da Silva continued his impressive batting form in England, scoring an unbeaten half-century to his unbeaten first-innings century as the West Indies versus West Indies A warm-up match at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground in England ended in a draw on Thursday.
Da Silva scored 133 not out in the first essay to guide West Indies A to 272 all out. West Indies led by an unbeaten 74 from Kyle Mayers then made 178 all out. Mayers 74 came off 56 balls with nine fours and three sixes. T&T fast bowler Shannon Gabriel continued his impressive comeback from injury by taking 4/42. Fellow pacers Kemar Roach 2/25 and Alzari Joseph also prepared well for the upcoming Test series.
Batting a second time another T&T fast bowler Anderson Phillip created early jitters as he took 2/20 but Da Silva was in too good form to be bothered. He ended unbeaten on 56, while Nkrummar Bonner made 47 and Jermaine Blackwood 43. Da Silva faced 83 balls hitting three fours and one six, Bonner made 47 off 114 balls with three fours and one six, while Blackwood was his usual aggressive self in taking just 48 balls and hitting seven fours in his knock.
Before the start of play, the West Indies team observed a minute of silence in honour of Sir Everton Weekes. They also had the benefit of coach Phil Simmons coming out of his room after quarantine to join them in their final day of cricket in the middle before the Test series starts.
Coach Simmons had left the touring party to attend the funeral of his father-in-law. There has been a call from the president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director Conde Riley for his removal because of the act.
However, CWI president Ricky Skerrit came to his defence saying that he had the backing of the board because permission was granted to him.
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 Ages Bowl in Southampton from July 8.
TEST SCHEDULE
1st Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton – July 8-12
2nd Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester – July 16-20
3rd Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester - July 24-28
SCORES
West Indies A 272 all out (Joshua Da Silva 133 no, Alzari Joseph 38, Preston McSween 3/28, Chemar Holder 2/35) & 171/4 (Joshua Da Silva 56no, Nkrummar Bonner 47, Jermaine Blackwood 43, Anderson Phillip 2/20) vs West Indies 178 all out (Kyle Mayers 74no, Keon Harding 22, Shannon Gabriel 4/42, Kemar Roach 2/25, Alzari Joseph 2/64). Match drawn.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Shai Hope, Shane Dowrich, Roston Chase, Rakheem Cornwall, Shamarh Brooks, Oshane Thomas, Anderson Phillip, Marquino Mindley, Chemar Holder, Preston McSween, Keon Harding and Shannon Gabriel.
West Indies A: Shane Mosely, Joshua Da Silva, Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder (capt), Raymond Reifer, Alzari Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel,
Jomel Warrican.