CELEBRATION TIME! West Indies A's fast bowler Tino Best celebrating the wicket of England A's opening batsman Alastair Cookon the first day of the first test at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John's, Antigua, yesterday.

stories by HAYDN GILL in Antigua

FOR A TEAM that was under-prepared, West Indies 'A' were given a favourable B grade yesterday. It could have been better, however.

On a pitch that was ideal for batting in spite of early morning life, England 'A' wouldn't feel contended with a total of 304 for eight after they gained the advantage of winning the toss in the first unofficial Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

At the same time, West Indies 'A' might also feel they allowed their opponents to get too many.

West Indians have recent unpleasant memories of seeing cornered opponents emerge from the ropes and yesterday was another example.

Two days after the seniors failed to transform a position of comfort into a victory, the second-stringers also witnessed opponents getting out of a hole.

West Indies 'A' did well to restrict England 'A' to 127 for five half-hour after lunch, but the visitors clawed their way out of the damage with a six-wicket century stand between the attractive captain Vikram Solanki and the busy wicket-keeper Chris Read.

They cancelled out the early damage by left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed, but the match was brought back on even keel by Mohammed's fellow Trinidadian Richard Kelly in the post-tea session.

They shared seven wickets between them, but truth be told, Tino Best probably bowled better than both, but had little to show for it.

Bending his back in spite of the placid nature the strip, Best claimed the first blow by removing highly-touted 21-year-old opening batsman Alistair Cook who was caught by the keeper attempting a hook.

Best immediately unsettled Owais Shah with a blow to the helmet and next ball had him missed at third slip by Dale Richards.

For someone with a big reputation as a slip fielder, Richards has made a few blunders of late and he missed another chance in the same position off Best in the session after lunch.

Shah overcame his discomfort at the beginning to lash 45 off 41 balls before Mohammed removed him 20 minutes before lunch to leave the opening session evenly poised at 109 for three.

There was a distinct advantage for the hosts on resumption when Mohammed claimed Ed Joyce and Alex Loudon, neither of whom looked comfortable. The left-handed Joyce, attracting a ball that bounced, was caught down the leg-side on the second attempt by little 'keeper Carlton Baugh, while Loudon gave a return catch when he was deceived in flight.

By then, a disappointing crowd of about 300, made up of mainly schoolchildren and English tourists, were sensing that West Indies 'A' could limit their opponents to less than 250.

The 29-year-old Solanki, whose 46 One-Day Internationals include the Champions Trophy final against West Indies in 2004, and Read, who has not played an international match since England's tour to the Caribbean two years ago, turned things around with a sixth-wicket stand of 121.

Those runs came at better than a run-a-minute. Solanki, fluent all round, made 86 (216 mins, 201 balls, 10 fours, one six) and the polished Reid cracked 78 (137 mins, 109 balls, 12 fours, one six) in an important partnership in which Solanki benefited from two low return chances in one over from part-time off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine.

Kelly, who took the second wicket with an lbw verdict against left-hander Michael Yardy, had a long rest between lunch and tea, and returned in the final session to bag a further three wickets.

Among his victims were Solanki to a jumping catch at extra-cover by Mohammed, and Read, who gave a low catch to mid-wicket.

When Kelly, who finished with four for 58 in 14 overs, knocked over Kabir Ali's off stump as the batsman offered no stroke, England 'A' were 267 for eight, but Gareth Batty (30 not out) and Alex Wharf held West Indies up by surviving for more than a hour.

Prior to the start, West Indies were dealt an important blow when in-form Ryan Hinds was unable to take his place on the team because of a bout of influenza.

haydngill@nationnews.com