Windies debutant misses century

First Test, St Vincent (day three, stumps):
West Indies 307 v Bangladesh 238 & 26-0
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Match scorecard

West Indies opener Omar Phillips fell six runs short of a century on his debut as Bangladesh fought back on day three of the first Test in St Vincent.

Phillips, 22, was closing in on becoming the 12th West Indian to score a century on Test debut when he drove Rubel Hossain to short extra cover.

A weakened Windies side made 307 in their first innings after Bangladesh were out for 238.

And Bangladesh ended the day 43 runs behind after closing on 26-0.

The Windies are missing 13 of the regular squad over a contract dispute, giving the likes of Phillips a chance to shine.

"It's a bit disappointing. It was a great innings," said Phillips. "I tried to change the tactics a bit in the 90s and that's where I fell down.

"Next time I get there I would know not to change my game plan."

With the Windies resuming on 17-1 the Tigers suffered a major early blow when their new captain and main fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza fell over following the third delivery of his seventh over and injured his right knee.

However, left-arm spinner Shakib-al-Hasan, who stood in as captain once Mortaza left the field, took 2-52 and debutants Rubel Hossain (2-52) and Mahmudullah (2-45) also made telling contributions as the Tigers fought back.

Rubel, 19, induced an edge from nightwatchman Ryan Austin to start the comeback.

And while the Windies would have been the happier side at lunch on 136-2, Bangladesh hit back in the second session with four wickets.

Travis Dowlin added 48 with Phillips but fell lbw to Shakib.

Captain Floyd Reifer and Dave Bernard rebuilt the innings in an entertaining stand of 51, but Mahmudullah shifted the momentum just before tea with a double strike.

Mahmudullah claimed Reifer on 25 and wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton nudged the next ball to backward short leg before Bangladesh worked through the lower order.

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