WI vs BAN | 2nd Test | Centurion Mayers backed his positive approach and counter-attacking mindset

West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers said his right decision-making helped him to score his second Test hundred on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against Bangladesh in St Lucia on Saturday (June 25).

On day 2, Shoriful Islam gave Bangladesh their first breakthrough. Shoriful nicked off opener John Campbell for 45. After which Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed the Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 51. Pacer Khaled Ahmed then came with a rare double-wicket over, dismissing Raymon Reifer and Nkrumah Bonner. 

The hosts were struggling at 132/4 with two new batters in. Mayers came to the crease just prior to the start of the lunch break with his side stuttering at 132 for four after losing in reply to the tourists' first-innings total of 234, Mayers played with a positive approach and dominated the rest of the day as he finished the day by remaining unbeaten on 126.

After the end of the day's play, Mayers said he was focussing on playing the ball rather than playing to the bowler's reputation.

''Not necessarily (having any score to settle with Mehidy). I think he is a good bowler, and I never had it on my mind that he got me out before you know. Anyone can get anyone out once a bowler bowls a good delivery so I don't go about playing names. I just play the ball," Kyle Mayers said, as quoted by Cricbuzz after the proceedings of Day 2.

Mayers further said that he backed his positive approach and counter attacking mindset to put pressure back on the opposition bowlers as his team was in a tricky situation before Lunch.

"Just to be as positive as possible (when I went to bat). You know the situation we were in we lost three quick wickets... I just thought being myself counterattack the game back on the opposition, and changing the momentum was key. It's just a matter of fully committing the way I do. 

I am very decisive in terms of stroke play, and I was very positive. When I attack, I give it all, and when I defend, I give it all too. Just being very decisive making right choices," he said.

The centurion stated that he maximized every chance of scoring whenever the Bangladesh bowlers errored in their line and lengths.

"I think they bowled well in patches, and when I get the opportunity to score, I tried to maximize every chance that I got to score. It's just a patience game. As I said, it's just not the pitches that you can blast the opposition and have to be patient both batting and bowling, and any chance I got, I tried to capitalize on it," he said.

This was Mayers' second Test century, coming off 180 balls and embellished with 15 fours and two sixes. The first came against the same opposition on debut in a historic chase of 395 in Chittagong last February.

The wicket-keeper batter Joshua da Silva remained on 26 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 92 with Mayers. 

West Indies ended the day's play with 340/5, and a lead of 106 runs.