West Indies A scored a modest 232 for eight in 50 overs against hosts Bangladesh in their first limited-over, exhibition match played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Put into bat in a day-night affair, the second-string from the Caribbean got of to a bright start with left-handed openers Adrian Griffith and Wavell Hinds putting on 63 runs in quick time . The duo reached 50 off 69 balls and looked pretty confident of scoring more runs.
But, the partnership was broken by veteran left-arm spinner Enamul Haque who removed Hinds in the 13th over.
Hinds was brilliantly caught by Shahriar Hossain at long after attempting a lofted pull. He scored a quickfire 31 off 39 balls which included four boundaries.
One-down Keith Semple (1) fell five overs later when he was bowled trying to pull medium -pacer Khaled Mahmud. Skipper Aminul Islam dismissed Griffith in the 23rd over with score reading 95. The fluent southpaw was brilliantly taken by Al-Shahriar at deep square leg. In his 78-ball 41, Griffith hammered a huge six off Khaled Mahmud and a quartet of fours.
Bangladesh's hopes of capturing a few more wickets evaporated with the arrival of youngster Ramnaresh Sarwan and Floyd Reifer . The right-left handed pair steadily repaired the innings and then launched their assault.
The duo added 107 runs for the fourth -wicket. It took 127 balls and helped their side cross the 200-mark in the 44th overs.
Enamul Haq in his third spell sent both of them back to the dressing room in the 45th over.
Reifer, who scored 66 off 64 balls with four boundaries and a huge six, was the first to go after offering a simple catch to Al-Shahriar at mid- wicket .Two balls later Sarwan, while at 48, was caught by Faruque at cover. The scoreboard was then reading at 203 for five. After the departure of Sarwan, the visitors lost three more wickets with the addition of only four runs.
Spinner Enamul emerged the most successful of the Bangladeshi lot, finishing his quota of ten overs with four for 25 . Meanwhile, leg-spinner Al-Shahriar took two wickets for 20 runs.
Right-arm medium pacer Shafiuddin Ahmed proved most expensive as he gave away 54 runs in nine overs. He was followed by skipper Aminul, who conceded 51 runs in his ten overs to capture one wicket.
After the 37th over of the West Indies 'A' innings, the play had been stopped for half an hour as a violence, between Police and activists of the opposition party BNP, broke out outside the stadium. Police kept firing lot of tear gas shells outside the big bowl and the acrid smoke ultimately affected the spectators and players.
In reply, Bangladesh were on 136 for 3 at the end of 32 overs.
Former skipper Akram Khan was batting on 21 while Al-Shahriar was on 4.
Opener Shahriar Hossain scored 37 off 49 balls inclusive of six boundaries while one-down Faruque Ahmed scored 26. Opener Javed Omar , who scored 22, retired hurt after adding 77 runs in the opening stand along with Shahriar Hossain.
The second match of the three-match series will be held at the Rajshahi Stadium tomorrow.