Chase hails 'good craftsman' Jomel Warrican

Beating Bangladesh in Bangladesh is never easy and West Indies just did that in the first Test in Mirpur. West Indies' spinners outbowled Bangladesh's, taking sixteen wickets against eight. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was especially brilliant for West Indies, claiming a match haul of nine wickets and the Player-of-the-Match award.

"I think that we have a quality spin attack, especially led by Jomel Warrican," captain Roston Chase said after West Indies beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in Mirpur. "He's a guy that I've known for many, many years, he went to school with me. He's a good craftsman. He's been improving and anytime he gets a chance, he always delivers. He has been leading us as a spin bowling unit and he's been giving us confidence to do well. So, just want to say well bowled to him.

"I thought that the pacers really helped us to control the run-rate as well, not really giving too many runs or let them get away in terms of having a high run-rate. I just thought outside of probably the second hour on the first day, we really hit our straps and put the Bangladeshi batsmen under pressure, in terms of the lines and lengths that we were bowling."

Chase felt that the control that West Indies' bowlers showed had a big say in the result. "I thought firstly not letting them lead us by too many runs was key because you don't want to be getting too many runs in Bangladesh, especially in the last innings," Chase said. "Then obviously, I think the start that we had in the second innings with the ball, we put them under pressure and we got, I think, four quick wickets early in that second innings. I thought that really broke the back of the Bangladeshi batting and then we just had to stay patient from there and try to get the other wickets, and that we did."

Chase was also pleased with opening batter Brandon King's positive approach during West Indies' chase of 170 on a tricky pitch. King remained unbeaten on 81 off 115 balls, including ten fours and a six.

"I thought Brandon [King] played well," Chase said. "He never really looked like the spinners were on top of him. He looked like he was in control, even using his feet coming down the wicket. But Brandon's that type of player. He's that player, when he gets momentum, he scores really quick.

"He hits the ball very hard as well, so I think that could intimidate the Bangladeshi guys as well. I'm happy to see him get to his personal best in these conditions because he's more of a guy that likes to play fast bowling. So, to see him dominate the spin like that was very pleasing for me."

Chase explained why West Indies left out senior quick Kemar Roach to hand a debut to left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop. Bishop supported Warrican and Chase with two wickets in the first innings.

"It was shocking for us when we came on the actual first day to see that much grass off," Chase said. "I didn't think that it was going to go that low. But then when that did happen, we actually changed at the last minute.

"We left out Roach and brought in Bishop. I thought that worked in our favor because the wicket looked, even though it was green, dry underneath. Then when the green grass got shaved off, I thought it would have been more suitable for the spinners. So, that's why we brought in Bishop and I thought he made an impact in the game as well. So, I thought that we read it [the pitch] correctly."