Our best day of the tour, says Clay
“We knew yesterday we had our backs up against the wall and we had to come out today and put in a good performance, and my hat goes off to the bowlers,” said Smith, who has yet to score and will resume Bermuda’s innings on 128 for two this morning with Stephen Outerbridge (61 not out). “I think they bowled tremendously well to restrict Holland to the total that they did. And to come out with an opening partnership like that (105), that really laid the foundation for tomorrow.
“It’s just a matter of these guys having the opportunity to play together consistently. I think Stephen (Outerbridge) and Kwame (Tucker) have shown in patches that they have the capability to perform. Hopefully now they’ve got the confidence to improve their game as the tour goes on.”
Looking ahead to today’s third day, Smith said the opening session would be crucial as Bermuda look to post a big total of their own in reply to Holland’s 378. “Stephen’s got stuck in. But tomorrow’s a new day. We have to go out there and really the first hour will be critical.
“If we can lay the foundation for the remainder of the team to come in and bat, then anything’s possible.
“It’ll be difficult to win this match. The track is really dead, it’s not really offering much to the bowlers. If anything, we’ll be looking for some players to get some really big scores.
“If it’s possible we’ll look to try and bat the whole day and then assess the situation from there.” Outerbridge, meanwhile, expressed relief over his much-needed half-century. “It’s been a while coming,” he admitted. “I think I had a bit of pressure on me. But all good things take time. I went in there today and tried to be positive. I talked to David (Hemp), I know he’s got a lot of experience and he helped me.
“I’m on 61 and obviously I’d like to go on. I think the wicket might crumble on the fourth day so tomorrow (today) we’ve got to look to bat the whole day.
“It’s hard work out there against the spinners, but I think we can put up a good show.”
