WINDIES batsman Kraigg Brathwaite has encouraged the team to continue taking a disciplined approach against English County team Essex following day one of the three-day first-class match at the County Ground on Tuesday.

Brathwaite crafted a careful 61 from 155 balls, his 37th half-century at first-class level, in a knock that included a total of eight boundaries. The West Indies then pushed on by steady scores from Roston Chase (81) and Jermaine Blackwood (59) pushed the score to 309 for eight off 89.4 overs. Shane Dowrich was unbeaten on 28 at the close of play with Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins left to bat.

“The key playing in England is patience,” Brathwaite said of the knock.
“I think as a team it was a good start to the tour. Tomorrow we just need to come and bat and put on as much runs as possible and when we do bowl we should stick to our discipline and just have a good game,” he added.
“We just have to keep learning and keep getting accustomed to the conditions and we should be good for the tour.”

The West Indies are using the match in preparation for the upcoming tour of England which gets under way on August 17 and features three Test matches and five One Day Internationals.