The WICB President’s XI has recovered from losing 5-20 after lunch to reach 6-173 at tea on day one of the three-day tour match against Australia in Barbados.
Dwayne Smith (61no) and Jason Holder (31no) have added 95 for the seventh wicket to guide the hosts through to the break after Ryan Harris inspired a collapse early in the middle session.
Harris has 3-13 from nine overs to lead Australia’s bowlers while Peter Siddle (1-25), Nathan Lyon (1-54) and Michael Beer (1-37) are the other wicket-takers.
After limping to 1-58 at lunch, the hosts were lucky to survive the first over of the middle session when Nkrumah Bonner was dropped in by Peter Nevill off the luckless Ben Hilfenhaus (0-23).
The very next over Harris struck, bowling opener Kieran Powell for 42 to end his 104-ball vigil, before the burly Queensland trapped Bonner (5) and Devon Thomas (0) lbw off consecutive deliveries two overs later.
Siddle then chimed in, bowling opposition skipper Carlton Baugh (6) when the wicketkeeper/batsman dragged one back onto his stumps attempting to leave.
The collapse was complete when Kyle Corbin (7) was easily caught by Ed Cowan off Lyon before former NSW representative Smith and Holder came together in their impressive stand.