JAMAICAN Jermaine Blackwood slammed his second first-class century to send an early signal to the West Indies selectors when the two-match series between the Sagicor High Performance Centre and Bangladesh “A” bowled off at Windward Club, St Philip, yesterday.
The 22-year-old right-hander’s enterprising 140 bolstered an otherwise disappointing batting performance by the HPC that saw them dismissed for 292 from 86.3 overs.
Blackwood’s dismissal with the score on 197 in the post-tea session signalled the start of a sharp decline for the home side, as they slumped from a tea time position of 220 for three.
He entered the fray from the first over of the match after HPC captain Kraigg Brathwaite was caught at the wicket off the fourth delivery bowled by Robiul Islam.
The former West Indies Under-19 player oozed confidence from his first delivery, which he drove over the top of mid-off to open his account with a boundary.
Robiul persisted with short-pitched bowling and Blackwood peppered the boundary between point and cover on the way to a half-century off 29 balls with 12 fours.
The more obdurate Assad Fudadin, who opened the batting, helped Blackwood post 112 for the second wicket before he was run out for 22.
Leon Johnson further cemented the HPC’s position, putting on 85 for the third wicket with Blackwood, who, for a short while after the interval, seemed to lack the fluency of the first session. Blackwood eased past the century mark, counting 19 fours and a six in 138 minutes’ batting off 103 balls.
Bangladesh “A” captain Nasir Hossain made the breakthrough for his side, having Blackwood’s lofted drive caught in the covers. Overall, he struck 23 fours and a six off 160 balls in 209 minutes at the crease, while Johnson went on to make 56 with seven fours and a six.
The last six HPC wickets tumbled for 67 runs, with left-arm spinner Taijun Islam returning figures of three for 83 from 27 overs while Robiul wrapped up the tail with the second new ball to finish with three for 86.
Openers Imrul Kayes and Mustafizur Rahman survived the single over from left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell that cost five runs.