Consistency key to series sweep – Bonner
Published:Friday | February 12, 2021 | 12:23 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
West Indies middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner says consistency with the bat will be key for the regional side in the ongoing second Test match against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
The visitors closed day-one of the first Test on 225/5 after captain Kraigg Brathwaite opted to take the first strike. Bonner, who is playing in only his third Test, is once again showing his proficiency with the bat at the international level, with his second consecutive half-century.
When stumps were drawn, the right-hander was unbeaten on 74 after batting for 173 balls and hitting six fours. Wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva was not out on 22 after the duo had shared in an unbroken 45-run sixth-wicket partnership.
“I think this wicket has a little more bounce, but it’s similar to the one in Chattogram, so it’s basically the same game plan, which is to try and be consistent and play as many balls on the front foot and keep the ball in the ‘V’ and as much as possible,” Bonner said.
Earlier, Brathwaite contributed 47 and fellow opener John Campbell, 36, in a stand of 66.
Kyle Mayers, the hero of Chattogram when he became the first batsman in history to score a double century in the fourth innings, on debut, was out for five. West Indies were in trouble at 116/4, but Bonner engineered a recovery, first with Jermaine Blackwood, as their 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket lasted until Blackwood was caught and bowled by Taijul for 28.
THE AIM
For Bonner, the aim is to continue to press the hosts and try and eke out as many runs on possible, with a first-innings total of over 350 being the acceptable target.
“Every innings I play, I put pressure on myself, we get paid to make runs and be consistent, and that’s exactly what I am trying to do.”
Once again, spin is expected to be a factor during the Test match, and Bonner believes that the ability to adapt quickly will be crucial to scoring runs on a track that is expected to turn as the Test goes on.
“There is no secret (to playing spin),” he said. “There are dos and don’ts, and you have to try and play with the spin as much as possible and stay on your front foot because of the nature of the wicket.”
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES 1st Innings
*K Brathwaite c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Soumya Sarkar 47
J Campbell lbw b Taijul Islam 36
S Moseley b Abu Jayed 7
N Bonner not out 74
K Mayers c Soumya Sarkar b Abu Jayed 5
J Blackwood c & b Taijul Islam 28
+J Da Silva not out 22
Extras (lb2, nb2) 4
TOTAL (5 wkts, 90 overs) 223
To bat: R Cornwall, A Joseph, J Warrican, S Gabriel
Fall of wickets: 1-66 (Campbell), 2-87 (Moseley), 3-104 (Brathwaite), 4-116 (Mayers), 5-178 (Blackwood)
Bowling: Abu Jayed 18-5-46-2, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 22-5-39-1, Nayeem Hasan 12-1-42-0, Taijul Islam 30-5-64-2 (nb2), Soumya Sarjar 8-1-30-1.
BANGLADESH – Mominul Haque (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, +Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed.
Toss: West Indies.
Umpires: Richard Illingworth, Sharfuddoula; TV – Gazi Sohel.