Ganga fights diarrhoea to score a century

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq

FLUIDS, bananas and dry biscuits kept West Indies 'A' captain Daren Ganga going in the middle after he got up in the morning of the third and final unofficial test against Sri Lanka 'A' at the Sara Stadium yesterday suffering from diarrhoea.

"It was a little bit difficult batting today considering I was not feeling too well. I couldn't eat anything at all and had to skip breakfast. I was just on fluids," said Ganga.

"Considering that, I think my effort was a great one. It was one of my better knocks," Ganga said after scoring a brave 109 to take his side to a respectable first day total of 277-5.

"I was struggling out there basically on fluids. We need to take malaria tablets on a weekly basis and I had mine the night before. I had difficulty sleeping and. I got up with a bit of diarrhoea. It was tough for me personally. I am just glad I was able to contribute towards the team's total," he said.

During his 231 minutes at the crease Ganga said that he was fed with polar drinks in terms of electrolytes and he was able to forced down a couple of bananas.

"It was tough. In the end I just managed to have a couple of dry biscuits. I've been on some antibiotics and Imodium as well to curb the diarrhoea. I am feeling a lot better now and come tomorrow I hope I will be 100 percent to give my best for the team," said Ganga.

The West Indies 'A' captain described the pitch as "very batting friendly and easy paced". "There was a little bit of spin there but not too fast. It was pretty much slow. I thought if you played yourself as a batter you would reap your rewards. I did exactly that. It was just unfortunate I had to get out in the end. I loved to have been not out at the end of the day," said Ganga.

He said his team would press on tomorrow and try and get a big score.

"We always try to get a total in excess of 350 and we are definitely on course for that. It will important for us to post a huge first innings total.

Considering our last game when we were shot out for 253 we are in a comfortable position. The guys are committed considering we have seven new players who have just flown in two days ago. The way these guys have started this game I think it's a fair effort by everyone," said Ganga.

"Bernard is playing really well. If he goes onto get a big one I am sure we will get in excess of 400. The plan tomorrow is to try and bat all day."