A RELATIVELY inexperienced Cricket Australia XI has the West Indies 8-251 at stumps on day one of their tour match at Karen Rolton Oval. Separate collapses in the second and third sessions stunted the visitors’ progress in Adelaide, though three batters brought up half-centuries.

The game went along at crawling pace during the morning session as the tourists posted 70 runs for just one loss. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul put on a 54-run opening stand before Bradley Hope sent the latter on his way for 17, five balls into his maiden over.

Brathwaite, who was dropped on 24 by Liam Haskett off his own bowling, raised the bat for a well made 52 (129) before departing at the end of the Windies’ first mini-collapse. Kirk McKenzie (23) and Alick Athanaze (0) were both undone by attempted pulls as their side lost 3-3 within four overs.

The silver lining was a brilliant innings-saving partnership between Kavem Hodge (52) and Justin Greaves (65), who both posted half-centuries to steer their side back on track. The pair are among seven uncapped members of the West Indies squad, hoping to break through for respective Test debuts.

Despite the duo’s best efforts, more trouble arrived as the new ball loomed late in the day. The Windies lost 4-8 inside seven overs to have just two wickets in hand come stumps, going at under three runs an over. Kevin Sinclair (12) and Gudakesh Motie (8) remain unbeaten at the crease.

After squandering an tough early chance to nab Brathwaite, Haskett finished with the day’s best figures of 3-57 (18). Opening bowler Jack Nisbet and spinner Doug Warren prized two wickets apiece, while Hope was the host’s only other wicket taker.

Play will resume at 10:30am local time tomorrow, with the unaccredited three-day match set to yield a bunch of rotation between the two extended squads. The West Indies are set to take on Australia in two Tests this summer; starting in Adelaide on January 17, before heading to Brisbane on the 25th.

SCORECARD

STUMPS, DAY ONE

TOSS: CA XI won the toss & elected to bowl.

1ST INNINGS: West Indies 8-251 (90)
Justin Greaves 65 (135), Kraigg Brathwaite 52 (129), Kavem Hodge 52 (101)
Liam Haskett 3-57 (18), Doug Warren 2-47 (20), Jack Nisbet 2-50 (18)

SESSION BREAKDOWN:
1st Session: West Indies 1-70 (29)
2nd Session: West Indies 3-90 (28)
3rd Session: West Indies 4-91 (33)

SQUADS

CA XI: Tim Ward, Jayden Goodwin, Teague Wyllie, Peter Handscomb (c), Jack Clayton, Jake Doran, Liam Scott, Bradley Hope, Doug Warren, Liam Haskett, Harry Conway, Jack Nisbet, Campbell Thompson, Harry Matthias (wk)

WI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Akeem Jordan, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Zachary McCaskie