Shillingford and Gayle put Windies in driver’s seat

Shane Shillingford in action at the Windsor Park on Wednesday
Shane Shillingford in action at the Windsor Park on Wednesday. Photo by WICB/Randy Brooks

ROSEAU, Dominica – Shane Shillingford continued to torment the Zimbabwe batsmen, taking a five-wicket haul for a second consecutive time as West Indies seized control on the opening day of the second Test match on Wednesday.

The tall off-spinner delighted his home fans and family with an impressive bowling performance to end with 5-59 as the visitors were bowled out for 175 at the picturesque Windsor Park. He was well supported by Shannon Gabriel, who got two wickets with the new ball and Marlon Samuels, who picked up three wickets.

Shillingford got turn and bounce and was almost unplayable as he followed up last week’s Man-of-the-Match performance in Barbados of nine wickets, including a career-best 6-49 in the second innings at Kensington Oval. He has now taken 14 wickets in the series.

The West Indies will resume Thursday morning on 114-2 – just 62 runs away from taking first innings lead. Chris Gayle played fluently in the final session to end on 61 not out off 84 balls. The powerful left-hander has so far hit 46 runs in boundaries – 10 fours and a big six. With him is the resurgent Marlon Samuels on 26 not out. They have so far put on 79 runs for the third wicket with little bother.

Earlier in the day Shillingford proved too good for the Zimbabweans. He struck in his first over when he bowled Hamilton Masakadza with a brilliant delivery and ended the innings when he had last man Tendai Chatara trapped in front offering no stroke.

“It was a great day for me. It was wonderful to come out here and get more wickets in front of my home supporters and my family. Last year I got 10 wickets here against Australia, so this year I’m looking to get even more,” said the 30-year-old.

“We believe we can win this match and take the series. As the captain said before a ball was bowled, we are looking to win this match and make it six Test wins in a row.”

Throughout most of their innings, the Zimbabwe batsmen tried to sweep Shillingford, a tactic the off-spinner said worked in his favour. Among his five wickets was skipper Brendan Taylor, who was bowled attempting a reverse sweep.

“When I saw them sweeping I was happy. For the right-handers, when they tried to sweep I tried not to bowl too straight but to bowl a little wider of the off-stump. I noticed they then changed their game plan. I felt our change of tactics worked quite well and we held them very tight. They had to look for other ways to score their runs.”

Commenting on the condition of the pitch, Shillingford said: “When I came out at the start of the day and looked at the pitch I knew right there and then it would spin. I saw some patches but it turned out to play really well. It was a bit on the slow side, but the bounce was consistent and I expect it to play well throughout the match,” he added.

Shillingford is also backing Gayle to get a big score in his first Test match at Windsor Park.

“We all know Chris is a man who can change a game at anytime and he is a threat for any opponent. He is a confident player and even when he wasn’t getting the scores he remained confident. It was good to see the way he batted this evening. He started off well with a good half-century and I just hope he can go on to get a big one (century) tomorrow,” Shillingford said.

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24 Comments

  1. March 21, 2013

    show them who is boss !! Shane am happy for u

  2. Da Real Trouble
    March 21, 2013

    Why them commentators keep talking with a kind of “we better than you” kind of tone in their voice about Dominica naa.. these guys

  3. None
    March 21, 2013

    Mash dem up Shane!!

  4. Doc. Love
    March 21, 2013

    Great job so far Shilly and West Indies,my problem is that enough pressure was not put on the coonoumoonou Indian Trini who called our home boy a pelter.

  5. cricket lover
    March 21, 2013

    Thats the way to go boys we at your back. We need a win in DA :lol:

  6. proud Dominican
    March 21, 2013

    mash them up WI

  7. vengance
    March 21, 2013

    go shillingford. we know that you have the potentials to do it and show that jack from trini that you are better than he thinks and we all can laugh at him in his face

  8. Thinking
    March 21, 2013

    Congrats to the WI.Players. A great day of cricket. The weather was superb. Shane thinks on his feet and thats what makes him so dangerous. I predict Gale and Marlon will bat all day tomorrow. So WI will bat once. Two for one?

  9. legit
    March 20, 2013

    west indies batting once…Friday is the last day weather permitting

  10. Culture Boy!
    March 20, 2013

    Shaney! you’re the spin bowler of the Century! it’s your time! make us proud! For all the set backs we faced in International cricket, you’re our cricket maintenance man!

  11. Sigh
    March 20, 2013

    Go windies Go!!!

  12. wow
    March 20, 2013

    congrats Shane….make us proud

  13. Justice and Truth
    March 20, 2013

    Shane you are doing well. I applaud you and am praying for you that you will come out on top all the way.

    A friend whom I heard was viewing the Match from his home in DA passed on. Surprisingly, I have not yet read about this person’s passing on DNO. He is well-known. There may be a reason for it.
    This person was an avid sports person since school days. I heard he said he was looking forward to Shane’s return and the rally. How sad he will not be physically present but I am certain he will be present in spirit. Who knows, he may have inspired me to state this.

    Well Shane, continue what you are doing well and better. Sorry I am not residing in DA to participate in the celebration upon your return. I will be present in spirit and read about it on DNO. :)
    All Dominicans wherever we reside are obviously vying for you. God bless you!

  14. Victor (palo) Joseph
    March 20, 2013

    I am very elated to see the manner in which SHANE SHILNGFORD’S recall to the W.I team when i saw him picked up three wickets in the first innings in Barbados i said he is going to do better in the second and eventually he did and got the man of the match .
    I knew he was also going to do well infront of his Dominica crowd and so far he has picked up five wickets in the first innings.
    my guess is that he will get another five in the second innings he will again then get the man of the match and receive the man oof the series.
    congratulations to you SHANE you have also picked up twenty-four for the Windwards in the regional games ,and with this performance on this tour your pick is sure for the upcoming PAKISTAN’S tour later this year

  15. %
    March 20, 2013

    Remember i gave you 10 wickets in Barbados, you got 9….. I gave you 11 at Windsorpark you now have 5. Waiting for the other 6 when they bat again…
    Good match and good series for you so far… Cement your pick as the test cricket spin bowler for WI… If you can do it against Australia, you can do it against the other teams as well.

  16. Jane Messam
    March 20, 2013

    Well done Shane – lets hope some more Dominican players follow your example. You are a class player and a role model to the younger ones!

  17. gumball
    March 20, 2013

    go shane go,keep up the good work captain sammy.

  18. Mamiez
    March 20, 2013

    For all of you who coming cricket on Saturday, please note the match ending Friday afternoon.
    Three day cricket!!!!

  19. the truth
    March 20, 2013

    Way to go Windies!

  20. Concerned
    March 20, 2013

    Shane boy we proud of you even they trying to keep you down. You proving it over and over. We supporting you all the way ……Great JOB

  21. March 20, 2013

    Shane we know you could do it so keep making your way to the top we are behind you and we a very proud of you.

  22. Michael
    March 20, 2013

    Excellent, Shane. I like it when they say you bowled brillantly or bowled an unplayable ball. Keep the discipline, keep focused and keep striving for excellence. And thanks for making Dominica proud.

  23. Yes Fada!
    March 20, 2013

    Good going Shane, keep it coming!

  24. Jahyout
    March 20, 2013

    Yes Shane show them that you can hold your own…Congrats..

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