In a series they cannot lose, the West Indies will be going all out to continue where they left off on Sunday 7th February 2021 when they defeated the host nation Bangladesh by three wickets with test cricket debutant Kyle Mayers smashing an unbeaten 210.
The visitors will take on the home team Bangladesh in the second Test match starting tomorrow at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.
The West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer and Jomel Warrican.
Bangladesh will miss one of their key players Shakib Al Hasan, he has been ruled out of the second Test, because of a left thigh injury that kept him away from most of the action during the first Test in Chattogram. Bangladesh has named Soumva Sarkar as his replacement.
Meanwhile, It can only be described as “One of the most amazing performances in Test cricket history” when top order batsman Kyle Mayers made a double century in his second Test innings as West Indies won the first Test match against Bangladesh on Sunday.
A member of the West Indies Under 19 World Cup squad in 2012, the left-hander made 210 not out as the West Indies chased down 395 for the loss of 7 wickets, their second highest successful run chase in our Test history and the highest successful run chase in Asia. Mayers followed up with an impressive first innings of 40.
The West Indies highest runs chase was against Australia in Antigua, 418 for the loss of 7 wickets.
Mayers brought up his 100 off 178 balls and the double hundred off 303 balls. He finished with 20 fours and seven sixes in his innings.
The West Indies back was against the wall when 23-year-old Right Arm Off Break bowler Mehidy Hasan ran through the top order taking the wickets of skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 20, John Campbell for 23 and Shayne Moseley for 12 (59 for 3) and were in all sorts of trouble. Hasan finished with 3 for 113.
The 28 year old Mayers shared two very crucial partnerships, a record 216 for the fourth wicket with Nkrumah Bonner, who made 86 also on his debut. The second stand was 100 for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva, who made 20.
Based on statistics, Mayers’s innings will rank among the greatest of all time. It is the highest fourth innings by a debutant and just the second time a West Indian has made a double on debut – the first was Jamaican, Lawrence Rowe.
Mayers became the third West Indies to make a double in the fourth innings. The others are legends George Headley (223) against England in 1930, and Sir Gordon Greenidge (214 not out) against England in 1984.
The highest being 287 by England’s Tip Foster against Australia in 1903.
The crowning moment came when Mayers got a single to mid-on to record one off the greatest moments in West Indies cricket history after five days of hard work from the team.
Scores in the match: Bangaldesh: 430 and 223 for 8 declare; West Indies 259 and 395 for 7. West Indies won by 3 wickets.
West Indies Coach Phil Simmons said, “After the sadness that greeted me this morning, the passing of former West Indies fast bowler Ezra Mosley of Barbados, (road accident), my day ends with such joy; I am extremely proud and overjoyed for the entire Test squad in Bangladesh on our victory in the first Test. Amazing runs chase today”.
Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards said, “What a sensational win for the West Indies, we never stop fighting and that’s what we proved today. Absolutely buzzing with the winning feeling”.
Also on board was former England Captain now international cricket commentator Michael Vaughan said, “Kyle Mayers, remember the name; fourth innings 210 not out on debut to win the game”.