West Indies (271 & 236/4) draw the 1st Test versus Sri Lanka (169 & 476)

[Ab Fan]

Did Windies made a mistake by bowling out SL as the target already reached 375?

 

[MenInG]

Exciting last day in store as Sri Lanka set West Indies 375 to win

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The first Sandals Test match is intriguingly poised with one day left to play at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Sri Lanka dominated the fourth day on Wednesday and scored 476 in the second innings – with a patient, maiden century on debut by Pathum Nissanka (103) and Niroshan Dickwella (96).

The pair added a record 179 for the sixth wicket and Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan to make a century away from home in his first match. He eventually fell to a catch by Kemar Roach from the bowling of off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who ended with 3-137 off a marathon 42.5 overs. Roach had the best figures of 3-74 off 27 overs to end the match with six wickets – following up his 3-47 off 16 overs in the first innings.

This left the West Indies with a victory target of 375. They reached 34-1 at the close and will require another 341 to win on the final day with nine wickets in hand. Nkrumah Bonner will resume Thursday on 15 not out and with him captain Kraigg Brathwaite on eight not out.

The match resumes on Thursday at 10am (9am Jamaica Time).

 

[Justcrazy]

WI need to pace there innings here , first session consolidate

 

[Justcrazy]

316 from 82 overs

Next 30 overs WI should look to get 100 runs , without taking a risk.

 

[Justcrazy]

57 runs partnership so far .they need to push on more here

 

[Justcrazy]

WI playing too slowly , they need to rotate the strike a bit more here

 

[Justcrazy]

Finally Lanka strike , WI two done

 

[Rafa]

WI won't go for the chase..it's done from their side..

 

[Last Monetarist]

A couple of early wickets in the second session and the West Indies might collapse.

WI 91/2 at lunch on Day 5
Bonner 50*

 

[Mesozoic]

This is going to be a draw.

Was turning out to be an enthralling contest in the first 3 days but the wicket looks to have completely flattened out. SL doesn't have enough sting in theirs bowling attack to induce a collapse now.

 

[Justcrazy]

Its likely to be a draw here , WI have failed to rotate the strike the way they should have

 

[Justcrazy]

Bonner has made 50 but he has played 134 balls , that is very slow.

 

[Justcrazy]

WI not going for win here

 

[Ab Fan]

WI need 249 runs to win and have 8 wickets in hand and about 51 overs to survive.

 

[Justcrazy]

WI looking to play out a draw here , without taking any chance

 

[Ab Fan]

They have upped the rate in last 15 overs. Still far from the chase. The Reqd. Rate is around 5.1.

 

[Markhor]

201 from 40 overs ? Not impossible, they'd need Blackwood and Holder to go great guns. However I think WI will settle for a draw and come back again in 2nd Test than take the risk.

 

[hafeezrocks]

201 from 40 overs ? Not impossible, they'd need Blackwood and Holder to go great guns. However I think WI will settle for a draw and come back again in 2nd Test than take the risk.

What are the day 5 rules ? Does full quota of overs has to be bowled ? Because the match started little late due to wet outfield and even Sri Lanka won't bowl too quick if WI approach the target so not all 40 overs will be bowled.

Unless there's a rule that all overs have to be bowled even if it gets dark and no time limit.

 

[Mesozoic]

Bonner and Mayers..... brilliant finds for West Indies.

 

[Markhor]

Tea. WI 181-2.

Well played Bonner and Mayers. Suddenly the likes of Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope are thinking how are they gonna get back into this lineup ? Perhaps if they decide to open or if WI drop a bowler.

 

[Ab Fan]

325 was chaseable in one day. 375 is just a bit too much.

 

[Rafa]

How many did WI score against Bangaldesh in the final session of the famous chase ?

 

[Markhor]

What are the day 5 rules ? Does full quota of overs has to be bowled ? Because the match started little late due to wet outfield and even Sri Lanka won't bowl too quick if WI approach the target so not all 40 overs will be bowled.

Unless there's a rule that all overs have to be bowled even if it gets dark and no time limit.

Apparently once 75 overs have been bowled, the last hour will begin in which there'll be a minimum of 15 overs.

 

[Rafa]

Mayers gone . Surely WI wouldn't want to risk chasing this and end up losing from here .

 

[Cric1234]

Sri Lanka have some chance now with the new ball coming up there’s potential for 3-4 wickets calling setting up a tense finish.

 

[Rafa]

Blackwood goes so WI are 4 down. 24 overs still to go.

 

[Markhor]

Nkrumah Bonner has scored his maiden Test century.

 

[Hasan123]

A lot of people were raving about Kyle Myers and rightly so, but this Nkrumah Bonner looks very impressive and gutsy. Let’s see if he can keep these type of performances going forward.

 

[Saj]

Heading for a draw it seems.

Sri Lanka a bit too safe with the declaration perhaps.

 

[Rafa]

WI need 150 runs more with 6 wickets in hand. Maybe they could have chased the target if enough overs were in hand so no question of SL declaring for a lesser target and giving WI an outside chance.

 

[Rafa]

What kind of pitch was this..went full flat after end of day 2 and remained flat till the last session. Any wicket falling was like a miraculous event.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Heading for a draw it seems.

Sri Lanka a bit too safe with the declaration perhaps.

Probably saw how WI chased down a big total vs bangladesh. So decided to play it safe.

 

[Markhor]

Match Drawn.

 

[Rafa]

Lol most folks in this thread were expecting this Test to be a thriller and best match of all times. Turned out to be such a boring and dull affair in the end.

 

[Suleiman]

Hard fought knock by Bonner.

 

[rhony]

Impressive innings from Bonner after his exploits in BD. Good bunch of youngsters and draw is an achievement.

 

[MenInG]

JOHN’S, Antigua – Nkrumah Bonner produced a high-quality maiden Test century to guide West Indies to a hard-fought draw on the final day of the first match of the Sandals Test Series on Thursday.

Resuming the day on 34-1 after being set a victory target of 375, West Indies batted all day on a placid surface at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Bonner ended 113 not out – another demonstration of his skills and discipline since the start of his Test career last month in Bangladesh. He was named the Sandals Player-of-the-Match.

On debut in Chattogram he made 17 and 86 and followed up with 90 and 38 in the second match in Dhaka. Here, he made 31 in the first innings and added today’s century. Overall, he has now made 375 runs at an impressive average of 75 per innings.

Left-hander Kyle Mayers played some classy shots as he made 52 and captain Kraigg Brathwaite worked hard for 23. Both batted well with Bonner to lift West Indies to 236-4 off 100 overs when the two teams decided to call time on an enthralling Test contest.

Starting the day on 15, Bonner faced 274 balls in seven hours at the crease, and struck 13 fours and a six. He extended his overnight second wicket stand with Brathwaite to 66. He then added an invaluable 105 for the third wicket with Mayers, and then an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 32 with Jason Holder (18 not out).

“This is truly special for me. This is my childhood dream and I am really happy I got this monkey off my back,” Bonner said on the Sandals Player Zone. “When I was on 99 I didn’t panic. I was seeing the ball well and I remained watchful. Jason came down and said ‘just keep doing what you have been doing all day’. It was great to have him at the other end to reassure me. It felt great.”

Bonner added: “Obviously the team had a game plan. From the evening before, we had discussions and basically the coach and the team said we wanted to take it ball by ball, and bat for the people who support West Indies cricket.

“Test cricket is hard, hard work, it examines everything about your game… your fitness, your skills, your technique… you have to be mentally very strong. Sri Lanka have a good attack with lots of variety so there is no time to relax.”

The second Sandals Test match will be played at the same venue starting on Monday. First ball daily is 10am (9am Jamaica Time).

 

[street cricketer]

Bonner said he idolises Pujara and it shows in his batting. Seems to be rock solid at 3 for the West Indies.

Wonder how the likes of Hetmyer, Bravo and Hope find their way back into the team with Bonner and Meyers doing well.