NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) — Nkrumah Bonner’s unbeaten half-century helped prop up West Indies A, but Bangladesh A held the advantage on the penultimate day of their four-day Test here yesterday.

The 22-year-old stroked a confident 70 as West Indies A, trailing the tourists by 64 runs on first innings, finished the day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on 171 for six.

West Indies A are only 107 runs ahead going into today’s final day.

Earlier, Bangladesh A were dismissed for 422 in their first innings after resuming the day on 331 for five.

Nasir Hossain carried his overnight 123 not out to 134 before falling, while Mithun Ali stroked 52.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel grabbed four for 62, while fellow pacers Nelon Pascal (3-56) and Andre Russell (3-74) claimed three wickets apiece.

West Indies A then found themselves struggling at 31 for three in their second innings, before Bonner and Barbadian Jonathan Carter, who hit 46, staged a 100-run, fourth wicket stand.

Openers Kyle Corbin (17) and Rajendra Chandrika (13) carried West Indies A safely to 27 without loss before three wickets clattered for the addition of just four runs.

Chandrika was lbw to left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo (3-54), Danza Hyatt fell to the same bowler in similar fashion for nought at 31 for two before Corbin was also lbw to off-spinner Jahurul Islam (2-33) without a run added.

Bonner and Carter then mounted their rescue effort, seeing their side to the safety of tea before carrying on their defiance into the evening session.

Bonner, who played a Twenty20 International against England in September, batted confidently to raise his half-century off 103 balls in 150 minutes at the crease. He counted five fours and a six.

He lost Carter, bowled by one that kept low from Jahurul Islam, and with one run added, saw new batsman Devon Thomas (1) depart.

All-rounder and fellow Jamaican Andre Russell, a first innings century-maker, then cracked 30 to dominate a 39-run, sixth wicket stand.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES A 1st Innings 358

(A Russell 128; K Rabbi 4-54)

BANGLADESH A 1st Innings

(overnight 331 for five)

*J Islam c Pascal b Russell 22

J Siddique b Gabriel 2

S Hom c Corbin b Pascal 5

R Hasan c wkpr Thomas b Gabriel 5

M Haque b Pascal 150

N Hossain c Bonner b Gabriel 17

N Hossain c Brathwaite b Pascal 134

S Shuvo b Russell 9

R Islam lbw b Russell 0

+M Ali c Brathwaite b Gabriel 52

K Rabbi not out 9

Extras (b6, lb6, w1, nb4) 17

TOTAL (all out, 83 overs) 422

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-8, 3-23, 4-59, 5-318, 6-346, 7-359, 8-394, 9-394

Bowling: Gabriel 20.1-6-62-4; Pascal 16-2-56-3 (nb2); Russell 19-6-74-3 (nb2, w1); Permaul 25-4-87-0; Brathwaite 13-3-51-0; Bonner 15-2-59-0; Carter 2-0-11-0

WEST INDIES A 2nd Innings

K Corbin lbw b *J Islam 17

R Chandrika lbw b S Shuvo 13

D Hyatt lbw b S Shuvo 0

J Carter b *J Islam 46

N Bonner not out 70

+D Thomas c M Haque b S Shuvo 1

A Russell c S Hom b N Hossain 30

C Brathwaite not out 9

Extras (b4, lb1, nb7) 12

TOTAL (6 wkts, 57 overs) 198

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-31, 3-31, 4-131, 5-132, 6-171.

Bowling: *J Islam 13-2-33-2 (nb5); K Rabbi 9-1-43-0 (nb2); S Shuvo 17-4-54-3; N Hossain 16-1-48-1; N Hossain 2-0-15-0

Position: West Indies A lead by 134 runs with four second innings wickets standing.

Umpires: L Kelly, C Mack.

Match referee: V Burnes.

Reserve umpire: B Joseph