Best v Best: Day 3 of three-day match

Coolidge Cricket Ground

RESULT: Match drawn

SEE SCORECARD HERE

Match summary: Blackwood Team 230-4 off 87 overs (Nkrumah Bonner 166 not out, Raymon Reifer 72; Rahkeem Cornwall 2-70) Brathwaite Team 279-4 (Shai Hope 100 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 79 retired not out, Imran Khan 2-89)

Shai Hope’s characteristically classy century was the highlight of the final day of the drawn three-day match on Friday. The stylish right-hander made an unbeaten 100 as the players continued their intense preparations for next month’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Opener Brathwaite scored a typically diligent 78 before retiring, combining with Hope to post 87 for the third wicket. Shamarh Brooks got 34 overnight and Kyle Mayers hit 26 down the order. In the bowling, leg-spinner Imran Khan claimed two wickets off a marathon 33 overs.

Resuming the morning on 73-3 in response to Blackwood’s XI 384-6 declared, Brathwaite’s Team benefitted from the enterprise of the captain and Hope who dominated the first session. Brathwaite picked up from his overnight 34, and struck ten fours and a six over long-on in an innings lasting 235 balls and 4-¾ hours. The free-scoring Hope faced 260 balls in five hours and counted ten fours and a couple of sixes.

Once Brathwaite retired, Mayers joined Hope to add a further 56, the left-hander played calmly, striking three fours in nearly an hour-and-a-half at the crease.

The second and final three-day match bowls off at the same venue on Monday. First ball is 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica Time).

West Indies players are the match as part of their preparation for a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka next month. Both matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium. The West Indies squad will arrive on November 10 and 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