Blackwood credits mental fortitude for form
Published:Saturday | February 6, 2021 | 1:16 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood continued his good showing with the bat at the international level, as the right-hander was once again among the runs for the West Indies on day three of the ongoing first Test match against Bangladesh.
Blackwood scored a resolute 68 runs in the West Indies first innings total of 259, replying to Bangladeshi’s score of 430.
Blackwood stroked nine fours in his over three-hourlong innings which helped to rescue the visitors from a spot of bother at 154/5.
The right-hander shared in a crucial 99 run sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva, who weighed in with 42. It was however total disaster for the regional side after the fall of Da Silva’s wicket, as they lost the last five wickets for just six runs in 23 balls. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite top scored with 76 runs against four wickets for off-spinner Mehidy Hasan.
For Blackwood, his continued purple patch with the bat comes down to his ever-growing confidence at the international level.
“You have to be confident as a player, because we played a practice game and I didn’t score any runs,” he said. “But still, you have to have that mental toughness. I know that I am not too good in practice games, but, once the original thing starts, I am 100 per cent ready.”
MAKING AMENDS
The 29-year-old said he was disappointed to have been dismissed at the time and not carrying on to get three figures. However, he is hoping to make amends in the second innings.
“The wicket is still good for batting and, once you don’t lunge at the ball, I think you will be successful on this wicket,” he said. “You then have to capitalise on the bad bowling whenever you get the chance to score.”
The hosts were pegged back somewhat in their second turn at the crease being 47/3, thanks to some good bowling from Rahkeem Cornwall and Shannon Gabriel. The Bangladeshis have an overall lead of 218 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
With the match precariously poised, Blackwood is hoping the bowling unit can complete the job and give the team a fighting chance towards a possible victory charge.
“Firstly, we have to take it hour by hour and session by session,” he said. “Once it comes down to that, the guys are very much up for it. I know Kraigg, John [Campbell], [Nkrumah] Bonner, [Kyle] Mayers, and [Shayne] Mosely are hungry for runs, and most of the guys want to bat and get some runs under their belt. Once the opportunity presents itself to win, we will certainly go for it.”
The final day gets underway at 10:30 tonight, Jamaica time.
SCOREBOARD
BANGLADESH 1st Innings 430
WEST INDIES 1st Innings
(overnight 75 for two)
*K Brathwaite b Nayeem Hasan 76
J Campbell lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 3
S Moseley lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 2
N Bonner c Najmul Hossain b Taijul Islam 17
K Mayers lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 40
J Blackwood c wkp Liton Das b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 68
+J Da Silva c wkp Liton Das b Nayeem Hasan 42
R Cornwall b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2
K Roach c sub (Mohammad Mithun) b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 0
J Warrican b Taijul Islam 4
S Gabriel not out 0
Extras (lb1, nb4) 5
TOTAL (all out, 96.1 overs) 259
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Campbell), 2-24 (Moseley), 3-75 (Bonner), 4-130 (Brathwaite), 5-154 (Mayers,), 6-253 (Da Silva), 7-253 (Blackwood), 8-253 (Roach), 9-259 (Cornwall), 10-259 (Warrican)
Bowling: Mustafizur Rahman 15-4-46-2 (nb1), Shakib-al-Hasan 6-1-16-0, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 26-9-58-4, Taijul Islam 33.1-11-84-2 (nb2), Nayeem Hasan 16-1-54-2.
BANGLADESH 2nd Innings
Shadman Islam c wkp Da Silva b Gabriel 5
Tamim Iqbal lbw b Cornwall 0
Najmul Hossain Shanto c Blackwood b Cornwall 0
*Mominul Haque not out 31
Mushfiqur Rahim not out 10
Extras (nb1) 1
TOTAL (3 wkts, 20 overs) 47
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tamim Iqbal), 2-1 (Najmul Hossain Shanto), 3-33 (Shadman Islam)
Bowling: Roach 4-1-5-0 (nb1), Cornwall 9-1-28-2, Gabriel 6-0-13-1, Warrican 1-0-1-0.
Position: Bangladesh lead by 218 runs with seven second innings wickets intact.
Toss: Bangladesh.
Umpires: Richard Illingworth, Sharfuddoula; TV – Gazi Sohel.