WEST INDIES IN CONTROL
Opener Joshua Da Silva hit a half-century and shared an unbroken, half-century stand with Kavem Hodge to steady West Indies against the Cricket Australia XI in their three-day practice match at Karen Rolton Oval.
Da Silva was not out on 55 and Hodge was not out on 44. The Caribbean side reached 137 for three in their second innings at the close on the second day of the match.
The pair have so far shared 78 for the fourth wicket and brought stability to the batting of the visitors after they stumbled to 59 for 3.
Led by the pace bowling trio of Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph, and Alzarri Joseph, the West Indies team were determined to put up a fight when they bowled out the CA XI for 174 to take a first-innings lead of 77.
Roach ended with two for 23 from nine overs, uncapped Shamar Joseph bagged 2 for 28 from eight overs, and vice-captain Alzarri Joseph took 2 for 40 from 10 overs.
Kemar Roach bowls during a training session of West Indies’ cricket team at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Associated Press/Ricardo Mazalan, file
The practice match is the only contest West Indies will play before they meet hosts and World champions Australia in a two-Test series, starting on January 17 at the Adelaide Oval before moving to the Gabba in Brisbane on January 25.
The left-handed trio of Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, and Alick Athanaze all fell for insignificant scores.
Chanderpaul was caught at gully off Haskett for a duck; McKenzie was caught at mid-wicket off the same bowler for nine; and Athanaze was caught at first slip off pacer Liam Scott for 16.
Da Silva got his 50 from 67 balls when he pulled off-spinner Doug Warren through mid-wicket for his seventh boundary.
Hodge, one of three batsmen to get a half-century in the first innings with a 67-ball innings with seven fours, including two cover drives in three balls in the final over of Haskett’s spell.
Earlier, West Indies declared on 251 for 8 in their first innings.
Shamar Joseph produced the breakthrough for the Caribbean side when he got opener Jayden Goodwin caught behind for 18 and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie got Ward caught at slip four balls after the batsman had reached the half-century mark.
Joseph struck with the fourth ball after the CA XI resumed from 94 for two at lunch when he bowled Teague Wyllie for 13. The home team lost six wickets for 22 runs in the span of 43 balls.
Roach got Jack Clayton caught at backward point before the home team had reached 100, and Test selectee Peter Handscomb caught at third slip for nine, four overs later.
Next over, Alzarri Joseph bagged two wickets in four balls when he had Jake Doran spectacularly caught at mid-on by Roach for eight, and Liam Scott caught at first slip for a five-ball duck, leaving CA XI on 116 for 7.
West Indies chose to give a few of the other bowlers on the team an opportunity, and the CA XI slowly past the 150 mark, with 24 from Bradley Hope, before off-spinner Kevin Sinclair brought the innings to a close when he got Haskett caught at leg-slip for 10.
