SAVAR, Bangladesh, CMC – Brendan Nash warmed-up for higher intensity battles, and Chadwick Walton enhanced his reputation with important half-centuries that drew West Indies-A out of a tailspin against Bangladesh-A in their second and final “unofficial” Test yesterday.
Left-hander Nash gathered an unbeaten 74, and Walton hit a stroke-filled 70 to lead West Indies-A to 230 for seven at the close, after they chose to bat on the opening day of the four-day match at the BKSP Ground.
Nash is likely to feature in the senior West Indies side for the Tests against South Africa next month, and he gave the selectors proof that he is ready, when he struck half-dozen boundaries from 169 balls in 3-3/4 hours of batting.
All but 24 of Walton’s runs were in boundaries, comprising seven fours and three sixes, from 95 balls in just under two hours, as he enhanced his reputation as a wicketkeeper/batsman.
Walton dominated a stand of 106 for the fifth wicket with compatriot Nash, after the visitors dropped to 74 for four. But he became the third of four wickets for 81 runs from 32 overs for Suhrawadi Shuvo, whose tally in the series has now increased to 13. Syed Rasel supported with three for 38 from 12 overs.
West Indies-A had a shaky start, when Omar Phillips departed for a first-ball duck to the second ball of the match from Rasel, who also removed fellow left-handed opener Justin Guillen for 15 to leave the visitors 16 for two. Travis Dowlin, the West Indies-A captain, joined Kirk Edwards, and they consolidated with a stand of 49 for the third wicket before Shuvo trapped them both lbw for 29 and 25 respectively.
Nash, who passed his 50 from 89 balls, and Walton revived West Indies-A with their contrasting styles before Shuvo struck twice in the space of 24 balls.
Walton, who reached his 50 from 70 balls, and spin bowling all-rounder Imran Khan both fell to the left-arm spinner to leave West Indies-A 188 for six. But Shane Shillingford arrived to score 12, and put on 37 with Nash before Rasel removed him just before the stumps were drawn. West Indies-A made three changes to their line-up, with Guillen, Phillips, and Nelon Pascal replacing Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, and Lionel Baker.
West Indies-A lead the two-match series 1-0, following a 114-run victory in the first “unofficial” Test, which ended last Monday at Mirpur.
