WI 'A' put to the sword

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

West Indies A endured stiff punishment when Mominul Haque and Nasir Hossain went on the rampage, collecting hundreds to lead a spectacular Bangladesh A revival in the first 'Test' yesterday.

No Windies A bowler was spared before Mominul was dismissed in the final hour on the second day for 150, leaving Nasir undefeated on 123 to drive Bangladesh A to 331 for five, replying to the home team's first-innings total of 358 at the close.

After the tail-end of the West Indies A innings did not last much longer than half-hour, the hosts made early inroads into the visitors' batting, reducing them to 59 for four in the first half-hour after lunch.

Windies A failed to gain much cooperation from the docile Vivian Richards Cricket Ground pitch, and Mominul and Nasir filled their troughs with some explosive batting.

Partnership milestone

Nasir reached his hundred from 116 balls, but Mominul needed 149 balls to arrive at the milestone in their partnership of 259 for the fifth wicket.

Nelon Pascal made the breakthrough when he bowled Mominul just before the close. The batsmen smoked 20 fours and one six from 223 balls in a shade under five hours.

Pascal ended with two wickets for 41 runs from 11 overs and new-ball partner Shannon Gabriel grabbed two for 39 from 14 overs to be the most successful bowlers for the home team.

Unfortunately for the West Indies reserves, they were unable to dislodge Nasir, whose 184-ball innings that included 14 fours and one six is still going after close to 4 1/2 hours.

The series between the two sides feature two 'Tests', as well as two Twenty20 and three one-day matches.