Sinclair stars as Windies ‘A’ push for victory

Kevin Sinclair continued to press his case as an all-rounder with his second half-century of the tour and third in his last six innings, as West Indies ‘A’ took full control of the final four-day “Test” against Bangladesh ‘A’ on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old, better known for his steady off-spin, struck 60 – the fifth half-century of the innings – to help propel the Caribbean side to a strong first innings total of 445 all out on day two of the contest at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Sinclair (2-51) then returned with the ball, along with fast bowler Anderson Phillip (2-26), to reduce the hosts to 157 for seven at the close.

Captain Saif Hassan top-scored with 32, opener Zakir Hassan got 29 and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan chipped in with 28, but Bangladesh ‘A’ found difficulty in stringing together partnerships and never quite settled.

Resuming on their overnight 320 for six, West Indies A’s pressure was built by Sinclair who lifted them past the 400-run mark in a knock which included seven fours and a six off 122 deliveries.

Unbeaten on 22 at the start, he lost Raymon Reifer before the left-hander added to his overnight 56, caught at the wicket off left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam (2-80), but then frustrated the home side by inspiring an 87-run partnership with Akeem Jordan who made 47.

The right-handed Jordan lashed five fours and a six in a breezy 63-ball innings before he was eighth out, clipping a simple catch to short mid-wicket off off-spinner Mahmudul Hasan.

And Sinclar followed soon afterward, missing a heave at left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed (5-133) to be adjudged lbw on the verge of the scheduled lunch interval.

In reply, Bangladesh ‘A’ lost Mahmudul cheaply for nine in the ninth over of the innings, brushing a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off Jordan.

And Mominul Haque followed for five in the next over, lazily clipping left-arm seamer Reifer to captain Joshua Da Silva at mid-wicket, as Bangladesh stumbled to tea on 48 for two.

In the final session, Saif and Zakir extended their third wicket stand to 29 but that proved the most productive of the innings as Sinclair and Phillip combined to engineer the hosts’ decline. (CMC)