Opener Jeremy Solozano narrowly missed out of a century but captain Yannic Cariah and tail-ender Preston McSween added half centuries of their own in a thrilling batting display against Bangladesh on the third and final day of the three-day tour match on Sunday.

Resuming on 83 with the CWI President’s XI on 201-4, the left-handed Solozano fell for 92, after facing 218 balls in 5-½ hours and striking 11 fours. He was adjudged leg-before wicket to left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman. Cariah, who started the day 21, made 56 while McSween, a specialist left-arm swing bowler, entertained himself with a cavalier unbeaten 50 from 62 balls which contained eight fours and a six.

Colin Archibald, batting at Number 8, produced a dashing unbeaten 40 from 44 balls as the President’s XI piled up 359-8 declared in reply to Bangladesh’s 310-7 declared on a placid surface at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. In a second time at the crease, the visitors reached 47-1.

Solozano, who made his Test debut last year against Sri Lanka but never batted after being injured in the field, stretched his fifth wicket stand with Cariah to 66 before becoming the first wicket of the day to Mustafizur, who was the leading bowler with 3-34.

Two balls later, Mustafizur accounted for Jeremiah Louis without scoring as he edged a wide delivery to the keeper, but Bangladesh’s hope of wrapping up the innings quickly were soon dashed by a string of stroke-filled partnerships. Cariah put on 35 for the seventh with Archibald who played freedom, striking six fours and two sixes. Cariah himself got into the act and played the shot of the day, a breathtaking six over extra-cover off spinner Mehidy Hasan.

When the left-handed Cariah became Mustafizur’s third victim after hitting four fours and a six off 119 balls, McSween entered to add 25 with Archibald and a further 66 in an unbroken ninth wicket stand with Jomel Warrican (21 not out).

The match was part of preparation for the first Test match between West Indies and Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The contest starts on Thursday and first ball daily is 10am (9am Jamaica).

-ENDS