Hard work paying off for Bonner

Jamaican West Indies batsman Nkrumah Bonner credits his second Test century, which he scored against England on Thursday, to long hours in the nets, as his runs have helped the West Indies take a 62-run lead heading in the fourth day of the first Test in Antigua on Friday.

Bonner batted for nine hours and 18 minutes and scored 123 runs from 355 balls with 12 fours and a six to help the West Indies close day one on 373 for nine, replying to England's 311 all out.

He shared in several crucial partnerships which enabled the Windies to gain a first-innings lead after they had resumed on 202 for four.

He first put on 79 runs with Jason Holder, who made 45, then added 73 runs with wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva, who got to 32.

Bonner then shared in a 44-run eight-wicket partnership with Kemar Roach who made 15, then put on 46 runs with Veerasammy Permaul, who is not out on 26.

Bonner, who fell late in the day to part-time spinner Dan Lawrence, was pleased with his effort, which he dedicated to the team.

"This innings means a lot," he said. "I was looking back at my stats before the game and I realised that I haven't scored any major runs in the Caribbean. Today, the team needed me and I am happy that I stepped up and delivered."

Bonner, whose first Test century was also at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, against Sri Lanka in March 2021, says the hard work behind the scenes is continuing to pay off.

"Over the years, I read a lot of books and I practised to bat long on the bowling machine when I was at the High Performance Centre," he said. "I batted for hours and it is something I know I have to do to score my runs."

With the lead heading into day-four, Bonner was pleased with the team's show of grit and determination, which has put the team into the ascendency.

"It was good to bat out the day and have England in the field to get their legs as heavy as possible," he said. "We have a 62-run lead and we want to bat for another hour tomorrow and put them under some pressure."

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st Innings 311

WEST INDIES 1st Innings

(overnight 202 for four)

*K Brathwaite c Overton b Wood 55

J Campbell c wkp Foakes b Overton 35

S Brooks c Root b Stokes 18

N Bonner c wkp Foakes b Lawrence 123

J Blackwood c Overton b Woakes 11

J Holder c wkp Foakes b Stokes 45

J Da Silva lbw b Leach 32

A Joseph c (sub) Pope b Overton 2

K Roach run out 15

V Permaul not out 26

J Seales not out 0

Extras (b1, lb3, w4, nb3) 11

TOTAL (9 wkts, 157 overs) 373

Fall of wickets: 1-83 (Campbell), 2-101 (Brathwaite), 3-111 (Brooks), 4-127 (Blackwood), 5-206 (Holder), 6-279 (Da Silva), 7-282 (Joseph), 8-326 (Roach), 9-372 (Bonner)

Bowling: Woakes 30-6-88-1 (w1, nb2), Overton 32-7-85-2 (w2, nb1), Wood 17-4-45-1 (w1), Leach 43-20-79-1, Stokes 28-7-42-2, Root 5-0-30-0, Lawrence 2-2-0-1.

Position: West Indies lead by 62 runs.

Toss: England.

Umpires: Joel Wilson, Gregory Brathwaite; TV - Nigel Duguid.