Bailey hundred exposes West Indian weaknesses

Former England Test batsman Rob Bailey highlighted the West Indies' bowling problems leading up to next Thursday's Fourth Test at Headingley.

Bailey became the first Derbyshire batsman to score a hundred against a touring West Indian team, remaining unbeaten on 112 against an attack which looked ordinary without both Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

Derbyshire declared their first innings closed yesterday on the second day of the tour match at 242 for five, a deficit of 148. This represented an impressive fight-back from 32 for 3.

The West Indies, who declared on their overnight score of 390 for nine, were 110 for 3 from 18 overs in their second innings at the close of the second day.

The tourists must, however, be concerned that Reon King and Franklyn Rose show no sign of finding their best form. King again struggled with his run-up and both tended to bowl too short on a flat Derby pitch.

King and Rose are nonetheless expected top retain their Test places next week. Nixon McLean and Corey Collymore were given only seventeen overs between them while leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo was erratic and expensive.

Bailey lofted Nagamootoo for six over long-off, hitting a spectator who needed hospital treatment although he was not seriously injured.

Bailey completed his century shortly after tea and would have found this one against the West Indies, the 46th of his first-class career, somewhat satisfying.

The former Northants skipper was dropped from the England after being on the end of a bad decision in the Bridgetown Test of the 1990 tour.

Bailey, who was chanceless in 277 minutes at the crease, shared stands of 83 with Mathew Dowman and 95 with Luke Sutton. Matthew Cassar provided some late acceleration before Bailey declared.

Bailey came to the crease at 12 for two when Stephen Titchard was lbw to King in the sixth over and Steve Stubbings was caught behind off Rose. He quickly lost James Pyemont, who was caught behind in Collymore's first over, looked in no difficulty afterwards.

Bailey declared as soon as the follow-on was avoided, but Adrian Griffith and Sherwin Campbell were soon launching into the county's attack, weakened by injury.

Griffith smashed 36 from 19 balls before he was bowled aiming a big pull shot at Dowman, and Campbell completed a half-century before he drove spinner Lian Wharton to extra cover.

Ramnaresh Sarwan failed late in the day, bowled aiming a loose drive at Cassar before he had scored.