KINGSTOWN – West Indies bowling consultant Curtley Ambrose has praised the performance of pacer Shannon Gabriel in the first cricket test against Bangladesh which ended on the fifth and final day Tuesday.
The Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler finished with three wickets in the match which West Indies won comprehensively by 10 wickets before lunch at Arnos Vale.
Gabriel was singled out for his tight and hostile bowling on a slow wicket on the penultimate day of the game.
At one stage he bowled seven overs for one run but was rewarded with two cheap wickets on the final day as West Indies bowled out Bangladesh for 314 in their second innings.
“I thought he bowled extremely quick on a very slow pitch. I thought he bowled very well,” said Ambrose, speaking to reporters on the fourth day of the test match.
“As the bowling consultant I keep telling him that you are bowling well and it is only a matter of time before lucks comes your way. So I am quite impressed with him. He bowled quickly.”
A four wicket burst from pacer Kemar Roach helped the home side to seal victory and take a one-nil lead in the two-match test series.
Left arm orthodox spinner, Sulieman Benn had also taken five wickets for 39 runs to help bowl out Bangladesh for 182 in their first innings.
“I thought that the bowlers bowled very well in some tough conditions. The pitch is not really conducive for fast bowling,” said the former Windies pacer.
“Not a lot is in the pitch for the bowlers but we keep talking about being patient and being disciplined and I have to say that. . . the guys have been really showing that”.
West Indies and Bangladesh begin the second and final Test on Saturday at Beausejour in St Lucia. (CMC)
