Brathwaite, Blackwood warm up with fifties

Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood scored half-centuries in stiflingly hot conditions as the West Indians moved to 8 for 303 on the first day of their tour game against a Victoria XI in Geelong. The two-day match is the West Indians' only scheduled fixture ahead of the Boxing Day Test, which starts at the MCG next Saturday, and due to the BBL commitments of state players, the Victoria XI was made up largely of men without first-class experience.

The temperature reached 43.8C at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on Saturday but Brathwaite seemed unfazed by the conditions and picked up where he left off from his second-innings 94 in the first Test in Hobart. He scored 78 from 175 deliveries in the first two sessions before he retired to give the rest of the West Indians a chance, although he was the only batsman who retired as the Victorians found seven wickets through the day.

Rajendra Chandrika shouldered arms to the bowling of Jackson Koop and was lbw for 28, which brought Marlon Samuels to the crease in an aggressive mood. Samuels struck seven fours as he moved to 45 from 39 deliveries before he was caught behind off the bowling of fast bowler Jackson Coleman to leave the West Indians at 2 for 115 after they were sent in.

Blackwood, who was coming off a pair in Hobart, combined with Brathwaite for a 99-run stand before Brathwaite retired, and Blackwood brought up a half-century of his own to give him some confidence ahead of Boxing Day. Blackwood was lbw for 69 to legspinner Jeremy Hart, who finished with 4 for 93 after running through the lower order in the final session of the day.

Hart had Jason Holder for 9, Carlos Brathwaite for 4, and Jerome Taylor for 4, while Shai Hope, the opener who was overlooked for the Hobart Test, came in at No.8 and managed only 1 before he was lbw to Matthew Doric. Denesh Ramdin finished unbeaten on 38 from 73 deliveries.