West Indies drew with Sri Lanka in their first Test on Thursday.
Middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner proved to be his team’s hero on the final day as he struck a mature century to help the West Indies sneak through unscathed in Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards stadium.
Booner’s knock of 113 runs off 274 deliveries, including thirteen fours and one maximum, was his debut Test hundred and was a magnificent effort as he saw through the last few sessions of the match against a resurgent Sri Lankan unit.
It is very emotional for me,
Bonner told West Indies Cricket following the draw.
I don’t think it’s a feeling that I can explain. It’s something that someone needs to experience it to understand that feeling. It’s a really, really special feeling. When I was on 99, Jason came down and said stay calm and stick to your process and stick to your gameplan and it’ll happen.
There’s no secret to my consistency. I have to thank the batting coach because he did a lot of work with me and I am happy to see that pay off. The second Test is a crucial one for us. We’ve managed to draw this and, obviously, there are a few areas we need to top up on. Hopefully, we can do that in the next three days and be ready as best as we can,
he added.
The phase for which Bonner credited ex-captain Jason Holder (18*) for calming him down was when he was struck on 99 and feeling nervous about it. Holder, one of the world’s premier Test all-rounders, showed exemplary control and experience in batting through to the end with his teammate.
Bonner, who had reached his ton with a break-free boundary and put the cherry on the cake with regards to his saviour act, was also influential to West Indies’ historic run-chase against Bangladesh in Chattogram recently. Back then, he made 86 off 245 balls and missed out on a well-deserved century.
Kyle Mayers, the stand-out performer in that chase, played an able support role to Bonner in this draw as he made a fifty – 52 off 113 balls, including five fours – to play his part in not letting the Sri Lankans gain a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
West Indies eventually finished with 236/4 from the 100 overs they batted in the second innings of the match. On a day where rain and wet outfield delayed the proceedings, Bonner revealed his team decided to play for a draw when they were 91/2 at lunch.
We knew they have an experienced bowling attack, and the ball also went a little bit soft. In the beginning, we had a small opening but at lunch time we decided to not got for the target,
said Bonner.
The team had a game plan that we had discussed before coming in. The coach and the management wanted us to bat for ourselves, for our families and people supporting Test cricket.
For the visitors, pacer Vishwa Fernando (2/73) and left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya (2/62) took a couple of wickets. Experienced fast-bowler Suranga Lakmal (0/33) and fellow quick Dushmantha Chameera (0/44) bowled with decent control. But Sri Lanka needed someone to deliver an exceptional spell or two to pull the match decisively in their favour.
That will disappoint the visitors, but they also had strong positives to come out of the game as they overcame a 102-run first-innings deficit to put the hosts under enormous pressure in the second half.
Young Pathul Nissanka (103) produced a fantastic century on Test debut. Lahiru Thirimanne (76), Oshada Fernando (91), Dhananjaya de Silva (50) and Niroshan Dickwella (96) also batted admirably for their knocks in Sri Lanka’s second innings. The Asian rivals posted a mammoth total of 476 all out and set-up a difficult target of 375 for the hosts.
Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka had managed just 169 runs after being put in to bat first upon losing the toss on Day 1, with only Thirmanne (70) withstanding his ground for a length of time against the hosts’ superlative bowling performance.
Pacers Kemar Roach (3/47) and Jason Holder (5/27) were the chief destroyers with the ball for the Calypso Kings. Holder, who has been brilliant for West Indies in Test cricket in the last few years, bagged his eighth five-wicket haul.
In response, the hosts were 271 all out, with a lead of 102 runs, which could’ve been a lot more intimidating to the Sri Lankans had some of the West Indies batters converted their starts. Rahkeem Cornwall (61) top-scored in the lower-order, while John Campbell (41), Bonner (31), Mayers (45) and Joshua Da Silva (46) played well but didn’t play the substantial knocks that would’ve taken the match out of Sri Lanka’s grasp.
Lakmal (5/47) Fernando (2/52) and Chameera (2/71) were able to pull the game back for the visitors with the ball.
With a draw in the first Test, the focus now shifts to the decisive second and final Test, beginning on Monday, March 29.
