By Neto Baptiste
The Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ opening batsman, Antiguan Devon Thomas, said he needed a big score to boost his confidence going into the West Indies’ two-match Test series in Australia from November 22 with a match against the Prime Minister’s XI.
Thomas top-scored with 94 off 98 balls during the Hurricanes’ abandoned CG Insurance Super50 match against Barbados Pride here at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday. He had three fours and four sixes with a strike rate of 95.9 percent.
“I was looking around 150 or so because when I looked at the chart [most runs], I noticed I was at the bottom of the table so I said I have to finish on a high to give me that confidence going to Australia. I was always in good nick but I just didn’t give myself any time at the crease for the first two games,” he said.
Hurricanes were 243 for eight after 46.4 overs when play was abandoned due to rain. Keacey Carty contributed with 59 from 100 balls with Terrance Ward getting 34 from 37.
Thomas, who departs Antigua on Tuesday with the rest of the West Indies squad for Australia, believes the Hurricanes can go all the way.
“We’ve been playing good cricket for the past two and a-half years, so we have to just continue the good work and keep on pushing. This is the second round of the tournament now, the back end, so this is the hardest part and if we keep on playing the cricket we are playing, I think we can go for it,” he said.
Jomel Warrican and Camarie Boyce each had two wickets for Barbados Pride.
The first Test will start on November 29 in Perth with the second match slated to start on December 8 in Adelaide.