Roneil Walcott
STYLISH left-handed batsman Alick Athanaze ignored out on three figures on the opening day of West Indies’ heat-up match in opposition to Pakistan Shaheens in Islamabad on January 10, as he scored 98 as the guests closed day one on 273 for seven.
Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite obtained the toss and selected to bat, and he and opening associate Mikyle Louis every scored 34 as they shared in a 47-flee partnership for the first wicket.
The lanky Louis struck four fours and a six in his innings ahead of he turned into as soon as trapped lbw by leg-spinner Mohammad Rameez Jr, who ended the day as the decide of the bowlers with figures of three for 40. Keacy Carty (22) and Kavem Hodge (17) obtained begins, but every batsmen fell to Rameez Jr.
With the Windies slipping to 90 for three, Athanaze told Cricket West Indies media that it turned into as soon as moderately complex at the initiating of innings as the pitch aided every the pacers and spinners.
“My innings turned into as soon as gradual at the initiating put. I came in after we had been drawing reach a spoil so I turned into as soon as appropriate looking out to evaluate and stare what turned into as soon as going on,” Athanaze mentioned. “We had a pair of win lessons, but time in the center remains to be priceless. I indicate it started off slowly after which I kicked off ideal after the spoil and issues started flowing.”
Known for his attacking manner, Athanaze didn’t help down from the Shaheens attack and he struck 15 fours and the solitary six in his innings as he pushed his manner to 98 off 142 balls.
Linked to his fortunes in opposition to Bangladesh in the Test sequence in November, Athanaze fell in the apprehensive 90s when he turned into as soon as bowled by left-arm spinner Ahmed Safi Abdullah (two for 91).
Athanaze rued lacking out on the century, but he turned into as soon as jubilant with his manner on what he described as a tough batting pitch.
“All in all, the pitch suited my sport rather attributable to I play scurry in actuality properly. I sweep, reverse sweep and stuff. Nevertheless I might per chance presumably believe most widespread a hundred at the pause of the day.
“It turned into as soon as ideal to plug seeking that we if truth be told obtained an opportunity to preserve out in the wicket. Now now not appropriate looking out to outlive, but additionally looking out to achieve. It turned into as soon as ideal to plug seeking us discovering ideas to achieve in prerequisites that had been so complex.”
West Indies went from 159 for five to 247 for seven, ahead of the TT wicket-conserving pair of Joshua Da Silva (11 now not out) and Amir Jangoo (29 now not out) seen them to the terminate of play without extra loss.
The heat-up match will raise out on January 12, with the first of two Tests between the Windies and Pakistan taking off at the Multan Cricket Stadium on January 17.
Summarised Rankings:
WEST INDIES 273/7 (Alick Athanaze 98, Kraigg Brathwaite 34, Mikyle Louis 34; Mohammad Rameez Jr 3/40, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2/91) vs PAKISTAN SHAHEENS.
