Da Silva is the unlikely star in Windies’ practice game

Joshua Da Silva put himself in the shop window with a fine century on the penultimate afternoon of the West Indies’ final intrasquad match.

Da Silva is unlikely to be catapulted from the reserve list into the Windies squad for the first Test against England but this composed innings spread across two days at Emirates Old Trafford may give the selectors pause for thought.

Intermittent downpours have blighted this fourday fixture but wicketkeeper Da Silva has been the star performer amid showers, and his 133 not out is put into further context by the fact the next highest score from the Jason Holder XI was 38.

Da Silva played a number of eye-catching drives and carried his bat as his side were all out for 272.

After a morning rain delay, he was more restrained than in the early part of his innings and a touch fortunate on 69, when a loose drive flew between fourth slip and gully. It was a rare misstep from the 22-year-old as he and the more watchful Raymon Reifer calmly led their side beyond lunch .

Rahkeem Cornwall had proven ineffective early into his spell but the spinner broke Reifer’s resolve, the batsman spooning straight in the air and departing for 22 as Keon Harding took a fabulous running catch.

Da Silva negotiated an aggressive four-over spell from Oshane Thomas, getting treatment after being struck on the bottom hand, but needed a bit more luck when he heaved Cornwall into the deep, bisecting the two leg-side fielders.

A crisp clip past midwicket was his 15th four and took him to three figures.

Alzarri Joseph injected some impetus into the innings with some lusty blows in a dashing 38 from 32 balls, part of a 77-run stand that took the side past 250. The lower order batsman had his stumps rearranged by Harding before left-armer Preston Mcsween cleaned up the tail, bowling Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican and Shannon Gabriel in short order.