Windies hope to bat better

Dhaka - West Indies skipper Darren Sammy wants his batsmen to fire in a bid to win the series-deciding second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka from Saturday.

The tourists conceded a 106-run lead in the rain-hit opening Test in Chittagong, which was drawn, when they posted 244 in their first innings in reply to the hosts' 350-9 declared.

Sammy top-scored with 58 for his maiden Test half-century, while veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul (49), opener Kraigg Brathwaite (33) and Marlon Samuels (24) all got starts but failed to convert them into big knocks.

"As a batting group we did not put up the first-innings score we hoped for and it's a matter of being a bit more patient when we're at the crease," Sammy said in a West Indies Cricket Board release.

"A few batsmen got starts, so the aim will be to convert those starts into big scores which we know the batsmen are all capable of doing."

Sammy, who scored his first half-century in 17 Tests, said he was pleased to contribute as a batsman in the opening match.

"On a personal note it was good to get my first Test fifty," he said. "Whenever I go to the crease I know I have to make a contribution with the bat and it was good that I could get a score for the team.

"It's not about answering critics or anything like that. It's about doing my best for West Indies cricket and fighting hard for the team."

The West Indies skipper praised wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh, who accounted for five dismissals in the first innings and two in the second.

"Baugh had a good match behind the stumps and that was really good to see. He keeps on getting better," said Sammy.

"We did some good things and we saw some players getting some good performances, but overall as a team we need to show some improvement as we look to win the match and take the series."

Bangladesh's spinners struck it rich in Chittagong as they claimed 11 of the 12 West Indies wickets to fall in the match, with debutant Elias Sunny taking seven and Shakib Al Hasan four.

The West Indies are due to tour India for three Tests and five one-day internationals soon after the Dhaka Test ends on November 2.