Mayers hundred puts Windies in dominant position
GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) — Left-hander Kyle Mayers struck a high-quality unbeaten hundred as West Indies bounced back from a pre-lunch wobble to dominate Saturday’s second day of the second Test against Bangladesh.
The 29-year-old grabbed the headlines with 126 not out, a knock which powered West Indies to 340 for five at the close — a lead of 106 heading into day three of the contest at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite chipped in with 51, his opening partner John Campbell added 45, while Vice-Captain Jermaine Blackwood carved out 40 and Joshua Da Silva, an unbeaten 26 in support of Mayers in the final session when West Indies lost only one wicket.
The innings appeared to be taking a different complexion when West Indies lost three wickets for one run in the space of 12 balls in the last 20 minutes before lunch to decline to 134 for four.
But Mayers put on 116 with Blackwood for the fifth wicket before adding a further 92 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand with Da Silva to dig West Indies out of a hole and put their noses in front.
Mayers has so far faced 180 deliveries in just over four hours and belted 15 fours and two sixes — the second of which raised his hundred about 45 minutes before the close.
The knock marked the first time in 15 months the Barbadian passed 50 after launching his Test career with a magnificent unbeaten 210, also against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year February.
Resuming the morning on 67 without loss, still 167 runs in arrears, West Indies made a confident start as Brathwaite and Campbell stretched their opening stand to 100.
Brathwaite, on 30 at the start, faced 107 balls and counted seven fours while Campbell, on 32 overnight, struck half-dozen fours in a 79-ball knock.
The left-handed Jamaican perished with the hour mark approaching, gloving a pull at seamer Shoriful Islam through to the ’keeper, and Brathwaite and Raymon Reifer (22) put on a further 31 for the second wicket, which seemed to be taking the hosts to lunch safely, before chaos erupted.