BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – WICB President’s XI captain, Jahmar Hamilton, says playing against an international side like England had forced him to up his game during Monday’s 50-overs contest at Warner Park.
The right-hander top-scored with 73 to help pull his side of trouble at 55 for five in the 17th over, and steer them to 233 all out off 48 overs.
“The bowlers are pretty consistent so you have to get better at your game,” Hamilton said after the President’s XI slid to a two-wicket defeat.
“It’s just about continuing working and working. Today those guys showed you that being consistent over and over can cause you to change the game a bit and do something that you are not accustomed doing so all in all it was a great experience.”
He led the recovery in a 123-run sixth wicket stand with all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall, who scored 59 from 61 balls in a counter-attacking innings.
Hamilton, who had a lean Regional Super50 with a highest score of 42, said it was refreshing to be among the runs after struggling during the recent one-day tournament for Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
“I feel pretty good. We lost a couple of early wickets so I couldn’t go in and start to blast from the start,” the 26-year-old explained.
“I consolidated a bit, rotated [the strike] in the middle and did what the team was asking for. [I] should have batted right down to the end but that’s the game of cricket for you.”
He continued: “I pretty much took my time when I went out to bat. I felt during the [Regional Super50] I was rushing at the start whereas I didn’t need to because I can always make up in the end.
“So I just started a bit slow today, started to pick up a little and gradually … started to play my shots freely.”
He was full of praise for Hurricanes and West Indies A teammate, Cornwall.
“He is a very good batsman and once he settles down and gets himself in, he can destroy you,” Cornwall noted.
“His bowling as well, he shows it every time he bowls so it’s just for him to be more consistent as well in the run-scoring and also his wicket-taking and his chances will be right there.”
Hamilton will shortly turn his attention back to the first class tournament where he is currently the leading run-getter for Hurricanes after five matches with 485 runs at an average of 69.
He said Monday’s half-century would be a further fillip for his already high confidence going forward.
“My confidence is always up so it’s just boosted my confidence a little bit more but when I come to play cricket I am always confident,” he stressed.
“I don’t want to get too overconfident as that can be your downfall as well but it’s just about being confident in yourself [and knowing] your weak points and strong areas.”
