Best v Best Match 2
Day 1 of three-day match
Coolidge Cricket Ground
Match scores: https://bit.ly/3BySAtd
Match summary: Brathwaite Team 280-4 off 95.1 overs (Jeremy Solozano 74, Shai Hope 71 retired, Kraigg Brathwaite 58 retired; Jayden Seales 2-28)
Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope maintained their good form ahead of this month’s tour of Sri Lanka, when they carved out half-centuries on the opening day of the second three-day match on Monday. Captain Brathwaite made 58 and Hope struck 71 before both retired as Brathwaite’s XI finished on 280-4 after choosing to bat first at Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano top-scored with a patient 74 while Kyle Mayers lashed a breezy 45. Brathwaite also hit a half-century in last week’s first warm-up game while Hope made 100 not out and both again showed their class on a placid batting surface.
Brathwaite faced 118 balls in nearly 2-½ hours at the crease and counted six fours and a six, putting on 98 for the first wicket with the resolute Solozano who struck 11 fours and a six over long-on in his knock which came off 216 balls and just under 4-¾ hours.
Hope then anchored two successive half-century stands to keep the innings moving. He put on 71 with Solozano and then added a further 73 with the left-handed Mayers who struck seven fours and two sixes in a 63-ball innings. Fast bowler Jayden Seales struck twice late in the day to end as the best bowler with two for 28.
The match continues on Tuesday at 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica Time).
West Indies players are using the Best v Best series as part of their preparations for a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. Both matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium. West Indies will have a four-day warm-up match in Colombo from November 14 to 17. The Test matches will follow on November 21 to 25 and November 29 to December 3.
The series is the second of six series, three at home and three away, that West Indies will play in the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship. Please see ICC World Test Championship table here: https://bit.ly/3EcJXpV
–CWI