Roseau (Dominica), June 5 (IANS) West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo said he enjoyed his career-best six-wicket haul on the second day of the opening Test against Australia, admitting that he knew the Windsor Park pitch would take spin.
The right-armer finished with six for 80 as Australia were bowled for 318 in their first innings on Thursday, in response to the West Indies’ 148, reports CMC.
At the close, the hosts were struggling on 25 for two, still in arrears by 145 runs.
“I know here in Dominica would spin a bit. The last match I played in the regional four-day tournament I got ten wickets in the match so I knew it was going to spin,” Bishoo told a post-match media conference on Thursday.
“At the end of the day, the wicket could be how you want it to be. But you have to go and perform and put the ball in the right areas.”
Bishoo collected all three wickets in the morning session as Australia, resuming from their overnight 85 for three, slumped to 126 for six on the stroke of the first hour.
He picked up Steve Smith for 25, Shane Watson for 11 and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for eight.
His dismissal of Haddin was the most pleasing, getting a leg-break to rip across the right-hander and hit the off-stump as the batsman played back.
“I don’t know what to say, I enjoyed it. There are no words to explain,” Bishoo said of the dismissal.
“I bowled some really good balls today and in the end it paid off. After bowling out the team for that score, we just have to go bat and bat well now.”
He added: “I always said I wanted to start off the series well and I got six wickets today so I got that good start. I have just to keep on doing what I am doing and finish off this series very well too.”
Despite Bishoo’s haul, Australia fought back through debutant Adam Voges who struck 130 not out, anchoring crucial stands with the lower order to help add 192 for the last four wickets.
Bishoo said at no time did he underestimate the opposition batsmen.
“They are one of the best teams in the world and at the end of the day you have to bowl well and play really good cricket to compete with them and we’re not here (just) to compete, we’re here to try and win the series.”
