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A maiden Test century from Nkrumah Bonner inspired West Indies to draw the first Test against Sri Lanka at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday. Bonner was pretty well assisted by Kyle Mayers, whꦜo scored a fi𝕴ghting half-ton to help his side in saving the Test match.
The hosts began their second innings at 34-1 on Day 5, still 340 runs behind and a mas🐼sive challenge to earn a draw. Bonner stood like a wall and remained unbeaten on 113. He batted throughout the final day. At stumps, the Kraigg Brathwaite-led side reached 236 at the loss of 4 wickets.
Bonner and Mayers (52) added 105 runs for the third wicket and eliminate🌼d the visitors from bundling them out in order to register a victory.
For Lankans, Vishwa Fernando and Lasith Embuldeniya picked up two wick𝓡ets each in the fourth innings.
Earlier, after winning the toss, the home side bowled out Sri Lanka for 169, with Jason Holder (5/27) bagging yet another fifer in his Test career. In reply, the West Indies scored 271 and gave a lead of 102 runs. Suranga Lakmal picked up five wickets for 47.
The Dimuth Karunaratne-led team came back strongly in the second essay, posting a humungous total of 476 on the scoreboard. The main highlight behind the big total was Pathum Nissanka, who smashed his maiden Tes♕t century. Niroshan Dickwella also shined with the willow and scored 96 runs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Well played Bonner! 👏🏽
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope)
So many people underestimate how significant an accomplishment it is by a you💎ng batting order to draw this test match so comfortably in the end. Well done to and .
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
That moment when childhood dreams become reality!🙏🏾 Wha🍒🦩t a knock from Bonner for a maiden Test ton!💯
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket)
Love to see our boys doing well, can’t stay away from this is what we all expecting, even on this time 🐈can’t stay away from this lovely game, boys gona do well and result will coming favor to us, #FingersCrossed#
— Dhammika Prasad (@imDhammika)
It takes a special kind of taleꩲnt to score a Ton on Debut, that too when the pressure is on. Well done Pathum Nissanka. This is only the beginning champ. I hope ꦗhe will be managed well
— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07)
A fantastic test match season for West Indies 🏏🏏.
They won a test in England post the Covid break, won a series in Bangladesh chasing in excess of 350
In the fina�🗹�l innings and now forcing this wonderful draw at home against 🇱🇰. 👏👏— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
Well done Path♉um Nissanka .. showing great strength in character a🃏s overlooked after mountain of runs .. hope he stays at proving you don’t need to play at certain clubs to play for Sri Lanka..simple mantra .. score runs .. pick up wickets..Congratulations!
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
Dickwella out for 96.. and the Dressing Room…
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket)
As always is on the money. The famous run-chasꦬe in Bangladesh was spectacular but for this young batting line-up to bat 100 ove꧒rs & draw the Test with 6 wickets to spare might be a lot more significant
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
Nkrumah Bonner & Kyle ♏Mayers are the first pair to have added 200+ and 100+ in the𒐪ir first 2 partnerships in the 4th innings of a Test.
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats)
Well done 👏🏼 Test hundred’s always special but to do it on debut it’s even more special! Exceptional talent even more very humble boy. So far brilli💎ant effort by all. Nicely set up a interesting final day! One big effort to pull this out lads👍🏽
— Farveez Maharoof (@farveezmaharoof)
Pathum Nissanka brings up his maiden Test Hundred on his debut 👏👏!
Congratulations 🙏
Sri Lanks now 429/5 & lead by 327 runs— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet)
The Windies guys are𝔉 giving me life rn cheering Bonner on, telling him to calm down ❤️
— naeemah (@NaeemahBenjamin)
"It's truly special for me. This is my childhood dream, and I'm really happy I've got this monkey off my back."
🎙 Nkrumah Bonner's reaction to winning the Player of the Match award after his maiden Test century! 🏅
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt)
Maiden Test hundred for Nkrumah Bonner in the 4th innings while chasing 375 runs against Sri Lanka – 100* from 243 balls including 11 fours and 1 sixes – What a knock under pressure and he is playing just his 3rd Test.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Nkrumah Bonner & Kyle Mayers in 2021:
– Added 216 for the 4th wicket v Bangladesh in Chattogram earlier this year as WI chased down 395 in the 4th innings
– Added century stand for the 3rd wicket v Sri Lanka at North Sound as they are chasing 375 in the 4th innings
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
and there it is. Nkrumah Bonner's first Test century. He's saved this Test for the West Indies after helping to set up that extraordinary win in Bangladesh
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket)
Nkrumah Bonner is a true champion with an inspiring story. Made his T20 debut in 2011 and ♓wasn’t success📖ful.
Worked hard at his game, exc꧅elled at the first class level ౠand 10 years later has his first test century.
3 50🐓s an🐬d 1 hundred in his first 3 tests is a dream 🙌🏼
— Nikhil Uttamchandani (@NikUttam)
Nkrumah Bonner is only the the 𒈔third player in Test history to make a score of 75+ in each of his first three Tests, after Azharuddin (1984🍎-85 v Eng) and Markram (2017, v Bang and Zim).
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket)
Nkrumah Bonner 1⃣0⃣0⃣*
Man of the series in Bangladesh and he continues his fine form with a ๊debut 100 in t🉐he Caribbean.
Excellent test match knock once more 🇯🇲🇯🇲
Rally mi seh!
— Carꦺibbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket)
