Shamarh Brooks spoke to the media after Day 2 - WI vs AFG Test match

West Indies middle-order batsman Shamarh Brooks spoke to CWI Media after the second day of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Playing his third Test and first outside the Caribbean, the 31-year-old made his maiden century as West Indies dominated proceedings. He played a number of stylish strokes on both side of the wicket and topscored with 111, which came off 214 balls and included 15 fours and a six. The knock propelled West Indies to 277 all out – a first innings lead of 90 after they dismissed the hosts for 187 on the opening.

Brooks resumed the second day on 19, alongside opener John Campbell on 30. The pair shared in a third-wicket stand of 82 in two hours. The left-handed Campbell made his first Test half-century – 55 off 75 balls with seven boundaries and a huge six over midwicket. Brooks featured in another crucial stand of 74 for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich – who contributed 42 off 91 balls with six fours.

Full Scorecard

 Match scores: Afghanistan 187 (Javed Ahmadi 39, Amir Hamza Hotak 34, Afsar Zazai 32; Rahkeem Cornwall 7-75, Jason Holder 2-22) and 109-7 (Javed Ahmadi 62; Roston Chase 3-10, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-41) West Indies 277 (Shamarh Brooks 111, John Campbell 55, Shane Dowrich 42; Amir Hamza Hotak 5-74, Rashid Khan 3-114, Zahir Khan 2-53).

 “I’m very happy with my performance and how it helped the team. This is my third Test match and to do something special and put the team in a winning position is what is most rewarding, Yesterday when we batted for 45 minutes or so, it wasn’t as difficult. But I guess as the ball got a bit softer, it started to turn a bit more... then it was about being patient and just picking off the bad balls. That proved vital today. I got really good support from John and Shane in the middle and everyone off the field. We will come back tomorrow and look to finish the job,” Brooks said.

 “When I was 13 years old, the great Sir Everton Weekes told me that when you’re batting against spin, you have to get very close to it, or very far from it. On a pitch like this against their quality bowlers, I think it was just about trusting your technique and skill. That was important … look to spend as much time as possible and just pick off the bad balls. Be happy with a single … look at some balls from the other end … get accustomed to the pace and how much bounce and turn there is.”

 In a dramatic final session West Indies off-spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Roston Chase both grabbed three wickets. Chase came into the attack in the final 20 minutes and picked up 3-12 off three overs. He accounted for the key wicket of opener Javed Ahmadi who topscored with 62 and fell off the last ball of the day’s play. Cornwall so far has 3-41 in the second innings to follow up his first innings of 7-75 – overall match figures 10-116. He also held two catches at slip.

 The match resumes on Friday at 9:30am (12 midnight Eastern Caribbean Time/11:30pm Thursday Jamaica Time).

 

FULL SQUAD

• Jason Holder (captain) – 8
• Sunil Ambris – 99
• Kraigg Brathwaite – 92
• Shamarh Brooks – 12
• John Campbell – 32
• Roston Chase – 10
• Rahkeem Cornwall – 93
• Shane Dowrich – 91
• Shimron Hetmyer – 2
• Shai Hope – 4
• Alzarri Joseph – 18
• Keemo Paul – 84
• Kemar Roach – 24 
• Jomel Warrican – 65