DHAKA, Bangladesh – Kieran Powell said West Indies were still eyeing victory in the first Test against Bangladesh, following a batting collapse in the final hour.
Powell wrote his name in the record books with his second hundred of the match, but he was one of five wickets that fell for 35 in the space of 79 balls that jolted the Windies late on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
The left-handed opener followed up his first innings 117 with his third Test hundred, a crisp 110, as the Windies reached 244 for six in their second innings – a lead of 215 – when stumps were drawn on Friday.
"I still think we are in a good position to try and get a win from here," said the soft-spoken Powell.
"Once we reach 300 [on Saturday’s final day], we should be in a good position to look for the victory, or even try to save the game.
"If we can bat through the first session [on Saturday], we should be in a safe enough position to push for a win from there."
Powell felt that the conditions had become a little more difficult and this would create an opportunity for West Indies to make a hard push for victory.
"The ball has started to stop a bit and this extra grip on the surface allowed it to bounce a little bit more and it was a bit difficult for strokeplay," he said.
Powell joined elite company, becoming only the ninth West Indies batsman to score hundreds in each innings of a Test.
He followed in the footsteps of the late great George Headley (twice), Everton Weekes, the late great Clyde Walcott (twice), Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Lawrence Rowe, Gordon Greenidge and Brian Lara.
"The previous night, our massage therapist told me this was the perfect opportunity to do something like this," he said. "I know this is a rare feat and I am fortunate it has happened for me."