MANCHESTER, England, CMC – Jermaine Blackwood’s struggles with the bat continued but reserve Joshua DaSilva shone with an unbeaten half-century on a rain-hit day two of the four-day ‘inter-squad’ warm-up match here yesterday.

Another reserve Sunil Ambris chipped in with 25 but Blackwood managed only one and Test captain Holder made just five.

Blackwood’s form will be cause for some concern especially since he is expected to feature in the West Indies XI for the opening Test next week in Southampton.

The leading scorer in the West Indies domestic first class championship, Blackwood made three and 15 in last week’s three-day tour match also staged here at Old Trafford, leaving him short of time in the middle ahead of the first Test.

Ambris, who struck a half-century in the first warm-up, faced 46 balls in nearly an hour-and-a-half before becoming Chemar Holder’s first wicket.