Hoping to post 400 on this pitch – Mikyle Louis

Opening batter Mikyle Louis said that West Indies will hope to target a score of 400 in the first innings of the series opener against Bangladesh in Antigua. The hosts finished the first day on 250/5 with Justin Greaves and Joshua Da Silva in the middle.

West Indies weren’t always in such a position of strength. They were reduced to 84/3 Louis (97) and Alick Athanaze (90) added 140 runs in the fourth wicket to resurrect the innings.

“I think we are in a strong position and we have Justin and Joshua De Silva in the crease now and I hope they will have a good partnership moving forward. I am hoping for 400 plus score on this pitch,” Louis said.

Bangladesh opted to bowl in the hope of taking early advantage of the moisture in the wicket. The openers negotiated the early seam movement but towards the end of the first hour, the hosts were in a spot of bother as they lost two wickets.

Louis admitted that it was difficult to bat as West Indies posted 50 runs in the first session and 66 in the second, before Louis and Athanaze raised the tempo.

“It was an innings of phases so initially there was little moisture and it was little slow and nipping a bit,” Louis said. “The partnership between me and Alick that was a partnership of substance. He guided me in a sense he was more experienced and feeding me information,” he said.

Louis and Athanaze batted well but missed out on a centuries, though Louis is not too hung up on that.

“There is an innings left in the game and I am hoping for three figures in the second innings,” Louis said, adding that he batted with the intention of having a go against short balls.

“I was really looking for the shorter balls and anytime the ball was short I just felt that it was in my area to pull it,” he concluded.