NORTH SOUND, Antigua CMC – Nkrumah Bonner stroked an attractive century to help salvage a draw for West Indies A on the final day of the opening ‘Test’ against Bangladesh A here yesterday. Unbeaten on 70 overnight, Bonner carried on to 127 as West Indies were eventually dismissed for 296 all out, after resuming on 198 for six.
Set 233 for victory, Bangladesh A were struggling at 30 for two before Jahurul Islam (41) and Raqibul Hasan (27) added 55 for the third wicket to see the visitors out of danger, after pacers Andre Russell (2-26) and Nelson Pascal (2-36) grabbed two wickets apiece.
Ahead by just 134 runs at the start, Bonner and overnight partner Carlos Brathwaite, nine not out, stretched their seventh wicket stand to 62 before being separated.
Brathwaite, who made his international debut last month against Bangladesh, pushed on to make 28 before falling lbw to off-spinner Nasir Hossain (2-74).
Bonner then combined with captain Veerasammy Permaul (22) to frustrate the young Tigers in a 62-run, eighth-wicket partnership that made the game safe for Windies A.
All told, Bonner faced 246 balls in an innings spanning five hours and 17 minutes, counting nine fours and two sixes.
With no realistic chance of reaching their target in two sessions, Bangladesh A were rocked early by the loss of openers Junaid Siddique (1) and Shuvagata Hom (12).
Siddique edged fast bowler Shannon Gabriel to Kyle Corbin at second slip while Shuvagata was lbw to Pascal.
However, Jahurul and Raqibul held up Windies A’s advance, posting their half-century stand off 112 balls in 79 minutes, before Russell accounted for both batsmen in quick succession but by that time, the Windies were out of time to grab a surprise result.

SCORECARD
WEST INDIES A 1st innings 358 (A. Russell 128; Kamrul Islam Rabbi 4-54)
BANGLADESH A 1st innings 422 (Mominul Haque 150, Nasir Hossain 134; Shannon Gabriel 4-62)
WEST INDIES A 2nd innings (o/n 198 for six)
K. Corbin lbw b J. Islam    17
R. Chandrika lbw b Shuvo    13
D. Hyatt lbw b Shuvo    0
J. Carter b J. Islam    46
N. Bonner c & b J. Islam    127
D. Thomas c Haque b Shuvo    1
A.. Russell c Hom b Nasir Hossain    30
C. Brathwaite lbw b Nasir Hossain    28
V. Permaul lbw b Shuvo    22
N. Pascal c Hom b Shuvo    0
S. Gabriel not out    0
Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-7)    12
Total: (all out, 96 overs)    296
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-31, 3-31, 4-131, 5-132, 6-171, 7-233, 8-295, 9-295.
Bowling: Jahurul Islam 18-4-48-3 (nb-5) Kamrul Islam Rabbi 11-1-54-0 (nb-2), Suhrawadi Shuvo 26-5-81-5, Nasir Hossain 25-3-74-2, Noor Hossain 6-0-34-0.

BANGLADESH 2nd innings
J. Siddique c Corbin b Gabriel 1
S. Hom lbw b Pascal 12
J. Islam lbw b Russell 41
R. Hassan b Russell 27
M. Haque c Hyatt b Pascal 13
N. Hossain not out 20
M. Mithun not out 12
Extras: (b-4, nb-5) 9
Total: (5 wickets, 53 overs)    135
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-30, 3-85, 4-91, 5-106.
Bowling: Gabriel 10-1-25-1, Pascal 14-4-36-2, Brathwaite 9-3-16-0, Russell 10-3-26-2, Permaul 7-1-12-0, Bonner 3-0-16-0.
Result: Match drawn.
Man-of-the-Match: Andre Russell.
Umpires: L Kelly, C Mack.