By Avenash Ramzan
West Indies batsman Nkrumah Bonner said he always puts pressure on himself to perform every innings, as according to him, “we get paid to make runs and be consistent.”
His second consecutive Test fifty, an unbeaten 74, stabilised West Indies on day one of the second Test against Bangladesh, as they finished on 223-5 from 90 overs.
“For me every innings I play I put pressure on myself; we get paid to make runs and be consistent and that is exactly what I’m trying to do,” the 32-year-old Jamaican right-hander said after the day’s play.
Bonner made a fantastic 86 on debut in the last Test, playing the supporting role to another debutant Kyle Mayers, who made a historic 210 not out, as West Indies chased down 395 to take a crucial series lead.
“I think this wicket (as compared to the first Test wicket) has a little more bounce, but it’s similar, so it’s basically same game plan: try to play the ball on the front foot and hit the ball in the V,” Bonner related.
After a start of 66 between openers Kraigg Brathwaite (47) and John Campbell (36), West Indies slipped to 116-4, losing Mayers (5) and Shayne Moseley (7) cheaply.
In partnership with Jermaine Blackwood (28) and Joshua Da Silva (22*), Bonner led the recovery effort to bring some stability to the West Indies innings.
“There were a few soft dismissals, however, that is the nature of the game. However, it is important to bat as long as possible,” the middle-order batsman related.
“A good total”, Bonner predicted, would be “anything over 350.”
