When we think of the ideal Test cricketers, who are stoic in defence and put a price on their wicket, not really bothered about the scoring rates, only a few come to mind. India’s Cheteshwar Pujara is one, Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne is another, South African captain Dean Elgar could be the third while you can’t miss out West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite either.
Brathwaite was in action yesterday on Day 2 of the 1st Test between Windies and England taking place at North Sound in Antigua. After the visitors put up 300+ in the 1st innings, it was time for the reply and the Windies openers gave them a really brisk start. While John Campbell is the better stroke player, it was Brathwaite who was particularly aggressive, breaking a few personal records as he went along.
Kraigg Brathwaite fastest Test fifty
He took the opportunity to put away every bad ball delivered to him, and went after both the pacers as well as the spinners. And in the process, he left his partner behind and kept the partnership going at 4+ runs to the over. He surprised everyone watching including the commentators and eventually, he got to his fastest career Test fifty.
The 29-year old opening batsman has a number of Test milestones which includes 9 hundreds in his 75 Test matches so far. Yesterday, he brought up his 24th career fifty for Windies in the longest format and it was the quickest one of his career too, getting there in just 62 balls. At one stage, he was batting at 40(41)* and you would’ve even expected him to get there quicker.
SEE ALSO: List of top online sports betting websites
He couldn’t go on to get a big one eventually, being dismissed by pacer Mark Wood after scoring 55(70) but it was a very entertaining knock by the West Indies captain, one with a lot of Caribbean flair associated with it. And the best part was that it furthered the cause for the hosts, giving them a good start and they ended Day 2 of the first Test at 202/4, now trailing by just 109 runs.
Currently at the crease are Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder, batting at 34* and 43* respectively, and the start Brathwaite gave them has laid a good foundation. West Indies are in a good position to build a 1st innings lead and they’ll be hoping to continue at the same scoring rate as Day 2 when play resumes on the third day of the Test match.
Coming back to the knock from Brathwaite, it included a lot of positive intent, rather than the usual stand and block that we’ve seen from him over the years. He played some authoritative strokes which included 7 fours and one big six as well. In fact, we don’t remember too many sixes from Brathwaite over the years. Take a look at the highlights from that innings here:
BRATH-Taking! 😱
Kraigg Brathwaite leading the #WestIndies’ charge against #England with a brilliant 50! 🔥
📺 Catch all the action on #FanCode 👉 https://t.co/JTU44AriuP@windiescricket @englandcricket pic.twitter.com/EDBzHwHTGM
— FanCode (@FanCode) March 10, 2022
For more updates on cricketing events from around the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
Register on Buba Games and get a massive 100% welcome bonus
