Bonner, Russell hold key

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

Nkrumah Bonner's unbeaten half-century helped prop up West Indies A but Bangladesh A held the advantage on the penultimate day of their four-day Test here yesterday.

The 22-year-old stroked a confident 70 as West Indies A, trailing the tourists by 64 runs on first innings, finished the day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on 171 for six.

West Indies A are only 107 runs ahead going into today's final day.

Earlier, Bangladesh A were dismissed for 422 in their first innings after resuming the day on 331 for five. Nasir Hossain carried his overnight 123 not out to 134 before falling while Mithun Ali stroked 52. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel grabbed four for 62 while fellow pacers Nelon Pascal (3-56) and André Russell (3-74) claimed three wickets apiece.

West Indies A then found themselves struggling at 31 for three in their second innings, before Bonner and Barbadian Jonathan Carter, who hit 46, staged a 100-run, fourth-wicket stand.

Bonner, who played a Twenty20 International against England in September, batted confidently to raise his half-century off 103 balls in 150 minutes at the crease. He counted five fours and a six.

He lost Carter, bowled by one that kept low from Jahurul Islam and with one run added, saw new batsman Devon Thomas (1) depart.

All-rounder and fellow Jamaican Russell, a first-innings century maker, then cracked 30 to dominate a 39-run, sixth-wicket stand.