West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood missed out of a well-deserved century during the opening Test against England. However, he is more disappointed about not being able to play till the target was achieved.
Blackwood scored a match-winning 95 in the second innings on Sunday. West Indies came out victorious by four-wickets over England. He was dismissed with his team just 11 short of the target of 200.
The 28-year-old has an impressive record against England. His average against England is over 50, and his only century also came against it. He scored an unbeaten 112 against the English team in Antigua in 2015.
“I was very disappointed in myself when I got out at that stage of the game,” Blackwood said. “It was very emotional for me when I got out, not because I got out. It was because I didn’t take my team across the line. I wasn’t thinking about the hundred, I was just thinking about winning the game for my team.”
Coming to bat with West Indies, struggling at 27-3, the right-handed batsman guided his team closer to victory. He acknowledged the confidence shown in him by Captain Jason Holder and Coach Phil Simmons.
“When you know that the captain has all confidence in you it just makes you feel good. I know Jason from way back from my Under-15 days, so he knows what I’m capable of doing,” he said.
“At no point in time when I was going to bat in the second innings I felt pressure. Just before I went out to bat, the coach (Phil Simmons) and the captain both told me just to play my natural game, but just be selective.”