POINTE-A-PIERRE (CMC):

Fast bowler Nuwan Kula-sekera, eyeing a return to the Sri Lankan Test side, grabbed a five-wicket haul to put the Sri Lankan 'A' team in a good position on the opening day of the first unofficial Test against West Indies 'A' at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre yesterday.

At the close of the rain-hit day's play, the regional team was precariously placed on 130 for six, after choosing to bat first on winning the toss.

Guyanese left-handed batsman Narsingh Deonarine was 40 not out and was partnered by all-rounder Darren Sammy on nine.

Deonarine was the mainstay of the West Indies batting, having spent 173 minutes and 106 balls at the crease, while hitting five fours.

Impressive figures

Kulasekera, a right-arm fast bowler, ended with the impressive figures of five for 47 from 14 overs as the West Indies batsman struggled with poor shot selection.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Patrick Browne slapped 33 and Devon Smith, 21, but the remainder of the West Indies batting failed to properly negotiate Kulasekara.

West Indies lost Sewnarine Chattergoon - without scoring with only three runs on the board - caught by Jeevan Mendis at third slip from the bowling off Kulasekara.

The West Indies 'A' team slipped into further trouble when Test batsman Wavell Hinds scratched around for 22 balls without troubling the scorers, falling to a catch at the wicket off Kulasekera with the total on 14.