Bridgetown, Barbados – Shane Shillingford is looking to continue from where he left off when he puts on the green Windward Islands jersey this weekend in the Final Four of the Regional Super 50 Tournament.
The tall off-spinner has been in amazing form with the ball this year. He bamboozled Zimbabwe’s batsmen with a record 19 wickets in two Test matches and was equally dominant against the regional batsmen with 46 wickets in five matches in the WICB Regional 4 Day tournament. His exploits in the RS50 have also been amazing with 13 scalps in four matches at an average 8.69 runs per wicket.
This weekend, Shillingford will be back in action when the Windwards face defending champions Jamaica in the second semi-final on Friday at Kensington Oval, where Trinidad & Tobago face Combined Campuses & Colleges on Thursday in the first semi-final. The Grand Final will be played on Sunday, April 21 at the same venue. All matches start at 2:30 pm and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
“I have been good this year because I have worked really hard. I’m on top of my game. The hard work, the discipline and the commitment – all these are factors why I have been better this year,” said the 30-year-old. “The next step is to win something for the Windwards. We have been playing some good cricket over the last few seasons – in the Caribbean T20, the 50-overs and the four-day tournaments – but we haven’t been able to get any cups to show. We will really be coming all out to win the Super 50 this time around,” he said.
Shillingford is one of the leading wicket-takers in modern-day West Indies cricket with 355 first-class wickets at 23.22 runs apiece. His brilliance against Zimbabwe in the recent Test Series saw him catapult up the ICC Test Match bowling rankings to No.23 – making him the second highest West Indian behind Kemar Roach at No.13.
“The team spirit is very high…the spirit is always high in our team. We are gelling really well as one-unit and I think we have a really awesome chance of winning the Super 50 tournament. We are really looking forward to getting over to Barbados and getting on the Kensington Oval. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but we feeling ready and inspired,” Shillingford told WICB Media.
“We need to continue to play well. The killer instinct is what we need coming into the semi-finals. This is not to place additional pressure on ourselves, but we have to find a way of finishing off teams when we have them down. That will be key this weekend. No one will hand it to us. We have to go out, play hard and take it,”
Good luck Shane. You know that you can do it. We will be praying for you. God bless!
Well said Shilli, now go get them. We will be watching and lending all our support. Good luck to the entire team!
Go for it,Shane,u have already made us proud. Good luck to Dominica,windards and west indies
Shane is so bright. He speaks the Queen’s English and we wish him well and the windwards/Windies.
All the best Windwards in the semi…
congrats and keep going my bro.all these are more kicks that i would give to frazir mohammed the iraqy.i hope this cricket commentator never set foot in dominica again.
Amazing what a talented person can do when the crabs not on your back. Keep it up. Do yourself proud.
Well My Brother man Shane! from Dublanc, Dominica!
Thank you for the West Indies Jersey, signed by you and your fellow Wind Indies Team Mates! you have our support here in the big T.O (Toronto).
You keep on doing what you doing, give thanks to God, every time you wake up. Ask God for as many wickets you would like, and protection and guidance from this mischievious World (People) that we live in.
I really can’t wait for your next Test Match!
Give God the Glory and you will have no worry.
I will be picking up the Jersey this weekend, and will frame it to show my Patriotism to not only Dominica, but the West Indies, in the rest of this World! Thanks once again!
When I come to Dominica soon, I am hoping you will be there, so we can keep it simple in Dublanc! Live life and show Leadership to the children of tomorrow, and take care of your Family, keeping things simple with God.
And that my Brother, will make you a man!
Who Jah Bless! no man Curse!
Shane’s bowling is classic you can tell its difficult to bat. He is consistent in his bowling its great to watch. i wish him the best. Blessing Shane!!
totally agree with you 100%…lets go shane!!!!
If I meet Shane in a game, I will show him who is boss. Is blows in his tail
Good spirit my brother. Congrates on your achievement this year.
Always remember, you are never really “on top of the game” there is always room for improvement. And you have to keep climbing the ladder of greatness.
It also means that you are very fit. Keep on working.You are the best test spinner in the West Indies at the monent… I am also happy that you are not being complacent.