Raymon Reifer and Joshua Da Silva have combined to help West Indies fight out a draw in the pink-ball tour match against the Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
Key points:
- West Indies were set 309 for victory
- Joshua Da Silva made 52 not out for the tourists
- The first Test starts in Perth on Wednesday
Chasing 309 for victory after the hosts’ sporting declaration at 4-221 late on day three, West Indies chose to put up the shutters once the eighth wicket fell, playing out the final eight overs to finish on 8-277.
Da Silva (52 not out) had started aggressively before playing for the draw in the final hour, while tailender Reifer remained unbeaten off 26 scoreless balls.
Not expected to bat due to a groin injury, Reifer did not even look to score, declining even the easiest singles hit to the outfield.
All results had seemed possible when West Indies entered the dinner break at 5-221, requiring a further 88 runs for victory off a minimum of 31 overs.
The last session started horribly for West Indies when Roston Chase (13) succumbed after just three balls. He was beaten in flight by Ashton Agar (2-41), miscuing and lofting a catch to Joel Paris at mid-off.
The pendulum swung West Indies’ way when Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph (31) combined for an enterprising 48-run seventh-wicket stand.
Joseph, who swung lustily and impressively, was grassed on 24 by Aaron Hardie in the slips before guiding Mark Steketee (3-56) to Michael Neser at gully four overs later.
When Steketee had Kemar Roach (duck) glove a short ball to Peter Handscomb at slip, West Indies fell to 8-273 and duly parked the bus.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of 164-Test legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, was named player of the match for his fine double innings (119, 56), which should surely earn him a Test debut against Australia in Perth, starting on Wednesday.
AAP
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