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After capturing his eighth Test five-wicket haul (5/27) to capitulate Sri Lanka for 169 on the opening day of the three-match series on Sunday, West Indies (WI) pacer Jason Holder believes a solid start from skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell is integral to reinforcing their day-one dominance.
At the end of the day’s play, WI closed on 13 without loss after Holder and fellow pacer Kemar Roach (3/47) dismantled the visitors. Holder commended his team’s stern display but called on the hosts’ top-order batsmen to apply pressure on the second day.
“We’ve got to start well tomorrow (Monday), it’s a new day. We have to make them (Sri Lanka) really work hard for our wickets. It’s important for John and Kraigg to lay the foundation.
“If they can bat that first session it would be brilliant for us and put us into good stead going into the next half of the day. It’s a really good wicket, it was quite slower today but I think it should quicken up a little bit better tomorrow and be a little bit easier for stroke-play,” said the former WI Test captain.
Holder led the charge with the ball and bagged the five scalps in 17.4 overs and finished as the WI’s most economical bowler with 1.53 runs per over.
Spinner Rahkeem Cornwall restricted the Sri Lankan batsmen as he picked up 1/25 from 14 overs, six of which were maidens. Alzarri Joseph was also economical by bagging one wicket for 25 runs from 14 overs.
Holder also credited Roach for his mesmerising spell.
“It was a really good day’s play for us. I thought our bowlers got the job done. If I’m being over critical maybe we didn’t use the new ball as well as we probably liked. It’s good to see Kemar Roach putting up his hand once again leading the way for us.
“I was able to support him. Rahkeem Cornwall also did an outstanding job holding things tightly on his end. Shannon probably wasn’t his best today but he still ran out and gave a really good effort, as too Alzarri (Joseph). I think all in all, a pretty good effort from our bowlers,” Holder added.
He expressed pleasure on his eighth five-for but called on his teammates to maintain their momentum heading into the second day.
“It’s a pleasing feeling. It’s right up there with any other five-wicket haul that have gone. The job isn’t finished. There’s still a lot of cricket to be played.
“Our next priority is to put a big score on the board and then give our bowlers something really nice to run at the Sri Lankan players in the second innings,” he said.
The Bajan continued, “To bowl a team out on the first day is a pleasing feeling. To be without loss at the end of the day’s play is also really good. That session there with Kraigg and John was very important for us to keep the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay and not give them anything in that evening burst. It’s important, starting tomorrow (Monday), to build a foundation and bat really big in this first innings.”
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