Joseph, Bravo thump 100s against Bangladesh

ST. GEORGE’S: Sylvester Joseph and Dwayne Bravo thumped their fourth First-Class centuries as the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) XI took control on the second day of their three-day tour match against Bangladesh at the National Cricket Stadium yesterday. Replying to the WICB XI’s first innings score of 320 for five declared, Bangladesh were 124 for four at stumps, with Mohammed Ashraful not out on 67 and Alok Kapali on nine. Joseph (115) and Bravo (100) shared in double-century third wicket stand that propelled the home side to their 300-plus mark and declaration, then Bangladesh rallied from wobbling badly after a three-wicket blitz at the top of their batting order.

From an overnight position of 82 for two, the WICB XI benefited from a 212-run stand between Joseph and Bravo, who are both without Test cricket experience, although they have represented the West Indies in One-Day International (ODI) matches. The 25-year-old Joseph, who was 42 overnight, gave chances at 89 and 92 but belted 15 fours and a pulled six — over square leg — off left-arm spinner Emanul Haque to reach his hundred before lunch. After the break, Bravo reached three figures and Baugh smashed a rapid half-century as the home side added steadily to their lunch-time position of 231 for two.  Joseph added just five runs to his lunch-time score of 110 before he gave an easy return catch to left-arm spinner Enamul Haque (2-83), and Bravo went run-out for his even hundred, with eight boundaries.

The 20-year-old Bravo raced down the pitch for a single after Dwayne Smith had played the ball, and both batsmen were stranded at the same end.  Smith (9) was bowled by Haque, playing across the line, before Baugh and Banks shared in an unbroken 64-run partnership that further frustrated the visitors. Baugh lashed 52 off 53 balls, with five fours and two sixes, and Banks was on 17, with two boundaries, when the declaration came shortly before tea. Haque (2-83), Tapash Baisya (1-30), and Tariq Aziz (1-69) were the successful bowlers for Bangladesh. Test pacers Corey Collymore and Jermaine Lawson then featured in a three-wicket burst that sent Bangladesh reeling at four runs for three wickets.