Bonner half-century keeps Windies afloat

-expected to provide benefit of invaluable practice

DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Strokemaker Nkrumah Bonner struck his second half-century in as many innings to inspire a West Indies recovery on the opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh here yesterday.

Fresh from his match-winning 86 in Chattogram five days ago, the 32-year-old followed up with an unbeaten 74 as West Indies climbed to 223 for five at the close at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

His knock proved especially invaluable especially after West Indies stumbled after lunch losing three wickets for 29 runs to tumble to 116 for four.

Bonner then anchored the innings with two crucial partnerships which frustrated Bangladesh in the last sessionand-a half of the day, and helped West Indies regain their balance.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite missed out on a well-deserved half-century with 47 while his left-handed opening partner John Campbell got 36.

Jermaine Blackwood chipped with 28 and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva was unbeaten on 22 at the end in partnership with Bonner.

Seamer Abu

Jayed, who replaced Mustafizur Rahman in the attack, led with two for 46 while left-arm spinner Taijul Islam picked two for 64 but champion off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who shared the new ball, went wicket-less.

With memories of their historic first Test win still fresh in their memory, the Caribbean side started well after winning the toss, with Brathwaite and Campbell posting 66 for the first wicket to keep the hosts without success in the first hour.

Brathwaite, once again showing positive intent, counted four fours in an innings spanning 122 deliveries in a shade over 2-¾ hours to reach lunch on 39.

Campbell, meanwhile, faced 68 deliveries in just under 1-½ hours while belting five fours and a six. He was given out on 13, lbw to Abu in the morning’s ninth over but was reprieved via DRS.

He was not so fortunate about half-hour before lunch when he missed a sweep at a full length delivery from Taijul and adjudged lbw.

Brathwaite and Shayne Moseley took West Indies to lunch on 84 for one but the lefthanded Moseley (7) added just one to his interval score before perishing in the fifth over afterwards, edging a drive at a wide delivery onto his stumps.

His dismissal set in train a slide for West Indies as Brathwaite and first Test hero Kyle Mayers (5) fell in a period where Bangladesh took control of the game.

Brathwaite was nearing his 21st Test fifty when he gifted his wicket, caught at first slip edging a cut an innocuous delivery from part-time seamer Soumya Sarkar.

Mayers, entering with the fireworks of his unbeaten double hundred in Chattogram still hovering, lasted only 18 balls before departing, nicking a drive at Abu to Soumya at first slip.

With the innings falling away, Bonner stepped up as he did in last week’s first Test, posting 62 for the fifth wicket with Blackwood to deny Bangladesh any further success before tea, before adding 45 in an unbroken sixth wicket partnership with Da Silva in the final session.

Exuding confidence, Bonner swept and cut Taijul for boundaries to move into double figures and followed up by disdainfully lifting the same bowler to the straight boundary a few overs later. On 30 at tea with West Indies on 146 for four, Bonner reached his half-century about 40 minutes after the resumption, with a single to long off off Taijul. Given out lbw to Mehidy on 57 only to be let off by DRS, Bonner has so far hit half-dozen fours off 173 deliveries.

Blackwood, unbeaten on 18 at tea, perished on the stroke of the first hour afterwards when he punched a simple catch back to Taijul after facing 77 balls and striking five fours.

However, any hopes of running through the lower order were stifled as Da Silva, who has faced 46 balls and notched a single four, proved immovable.

With the aim of providing valuable match practice to its locally based contingent, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is exploring the possibility of staging two international friendlies during the month of March before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

This was disclosed by a source within the senior men’s national program, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to the source, the GFF is actively pursuing the hosting of two matches outside the FIFA stipulated window to give the team the necessary match practice before the clash with traditional powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago in the World Cup Qualifiers.

The source explained, “The GFF is working on giving the team two international games, one is slated for the 5th and the other on the 7th of March. Both games are likely to be played in Guyana because of the travelling issues associated with the team leaving and going to play.”

The Golden Jaguars have not competed on the international circuit for more than 446 days, with their previous encounter occurring against Aruba on November 15, 2019.

The source further divulged that approval has been sought from the respective governmental agencies on the possibility of staging the fixtures, and that Suriname is the likely opposition for the Golden Jaguars.

“At the moment, work is being done to get a sense as to whether approval from the national taskforce and the government will be given to allow the team to enter Guyana and play. Letters have been sent out to ascertain the possibility of staging the games. Suriname is being touted as the best possible opposition at the moment given their proximity,” the source explained.

The source pointed out that if the matches are realised, they will more than likely not feature internationally based players, owing to the fact that the fixtures are held outside the international window period and the prevailing COVID-19 travel restrictions of the respective countries where the players ply their trade.

“Because it’s outside of the window, I don’t think much effort will be made to acquire the international-based players. It will be difficult to get them during that time also because of the travelling restrictions in the different countries”, the source added.

According to the source, “If given approval, the GFF is also looking at the possibility of broadcasting the game live given that spectators will more than likely not be allowed and the National Stadium is considered the best option to stage the match especially if it’s broadcasted as that is best for the broadcasters.”

The Guyanese were drawn in Group-F in the first stage of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, a pool which contains traditional rival, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. Guyana will open their campaign away to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday March 25, before hosting the Bahamas on March 30.

In their third match, Guyana will travel to St. Kitts and Nevis for Friday June 4, before ending their group round at home on Tuesday June 8 against Puerto Rico. Upon the conclusion of the first round, the second stage will consist of the respective group winners facing off in a home and away series during the latter stages of June. The winner of Group-A will oppose Group-F, whilst Group-B battles Group-E, and Group-C engages GroupD.

The eventual victors will advance to the final round in September which will consist of eight teams. Following the conclusion of the final round, the top three teams will qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The fourth-placed finisher will contest the Confederation Playoff. Guyana’s best showing in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers occurred in the 2014 edition, as they romped to the third stage of qualifying.

This is the penultimate section of the confederation’s qualification process.