CHELMSFORD, England (CMC) — Opener Kraigg Brathwaite has praised West Indies’ start to the tour of England, after they batted all day against English County Essex to surpass 300 runs here Tuesday.

The right-hander scored 61 to be one of the three players to gather half-centuries, with Roston Chase top-scoring with 81 and Jermaine Blackwood scoring an attacking 59, as West Indies ended the opening day of the three-day first class game on 309 for eight.

“I thought it was a decent knock. The new ball seamed a bit and I think the guys bowled really well, and I’m quite pleased with the knock,” Brathwaite said.

“I think as a team this is a good start to the tour. Tomorrow we have to come and bat, put on as much runs as possible, and when we do bowl, stick to our disciplines and have a good game.”

Brathwaite put on 51 for the third wicket with Shai Hope (22), and a further 44 for the fourth wicket with Chase.

However, it was the fifth-wicket stand between Chase and Blackwood that proved the turning point of the innings, as they posted an exciting 119 to entertain the large crowd at the County Ground.

Brathwaite said more important than the runs was the Windies players spending time at the crease in order to get acclimatised to the English conditions.

“I think Jermaine batted really well. It was just unfortunate he couldn’t go on and get a hundred,” he said.

“Roston played well and it was a good partnership. I think we had a decent day for the batters. We just have to keep learning, keep getting accustomed to the conditions, and it should be good for the tour.”

All three players are on their maiden tour of England as part of an inexperienced, 15-man West Indies squad. The match against Essex is the first of three first class matches in the lead-up to the first Test against England beginning at Edgbaston on August 17.

Brathwaite said it was important that the Windies batsmen made adjustments, especially with the element of the swinging ball, in the difficult English conditions.

“One of the keys is to play the ball as late as possible. The weather tends to change a lot and when it gets overcast the ball tends to swing a little more, so you’re never in,” he explained.

“I think that is one of the keys, once you have the mindset that will carry you through, to help you to get big scores.

“I think the Essex bowlers were disciplined and they had the ball doing a fair bit throughout the day so I think that [staying patient] was the key, and obviously capitalising on the bad balls.”