Dubai: West Indies Test geared up for the oncoming challenge from the Pakistan team with a strong performance on the first day of the two day match against Emirates Cricket Board XI at the ICC Academy Ground.

Batting first, West Indies posted 249 for six declared in 70 overs and before the close of play shattered ECB’s batting line up to leave them tottering at 56 for 7 in 20 overs.

ECB found the pace of Jonathan Carter and Miguel Cummins too hot to handle with five batsmen returning to the pavilion for a duck. At one stage ECB were 20 for 7 before Shaiman Anwar, through a fighting unbeaten 23, and Rohan Mustafa who was unconquered on 17, put on an unbeaten 36 runs in the last 12 overs. The ECB team made up of UAE national team players have been struggling in longer versions of the game for some time.

The West Indies team — reeling under the pressure of series defeats in Twenty20 and One Day Internationals against Pakistan — elected to bat. Openers Leon Johnson and Shane Dowrich put on 48 runs in the first 14 overs before Amjad Javed had Dowrich caught behind by wicketkeeper Ghulam Shabber for 24. Shai Hope and put on 92 runs for the second wicket. Johnson retired after hitting 50 off 128 balls with four boundaries and Hope too retired after scoring 59 runs off 89 balls with nine boundaries and one six.

West Indies middle order batsmen Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood also retired after scoring 38 and 45 runs respectively.

Rohan Mustafa clean bowled Ashley Nurse for a duck but Jonathan Carter hit an unbeaten 20 before West Indies skipper Johnson declared the innings.

ECB lost their opener Chirag Suri to the second ball of the innings from Cummins for a duck. One-drop Rohit Singh hit a boundary but fell caught behind to Cummins for 8. Opener Mohammad Qasim too got caught behind for a duck off Carter.

Former Pakistan Test batsman Hasan Raza too joined the list of players who fell for a duck and so did Rameez Shehzad and Mohammad Usman. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, Shaiman Anwar stepped out and hit Carter for a six. Mustafa also hit left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican for two boundaries in one over.

UAE trail by 193 runs with only three wickets in hand.