Hinds in runs again

Leicester, England: Wavell Hinds warmed up for the third Test at Old Trafford on Thursday with his fifth tour half-century against Leicestershire at Grace Road yesterday.

But the rest of the West Indies frontline batsmen failed to cash in on an easy-paced pitch as the tourists reached 131 for three off 56 overs by the close of the second day.

Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith and Chris Gayle all failed to reach 20 after Leicestershire captain Vince Wells had declared during the lunch interval with the county side on 333 for seven.

Only Hinds looked to have the confidence and touch the West Indies will be hoping to see when they go into the third Test against England with the series all square at 1-1.

The young Jamaican has emerged as one of their best batsmen on the tour so far and reached his 50 in just over two hours off 104 balls, hitting seven fours.

But the dismissals of Campbell, Griffith and Gayle on such a benign pitch will have raised alarms in the tourists' camp.

Campbell, having made 17 out of an opening stand of 33 with Griffith. Then at 45 Griffith followed for ten and Gayle mustered just 16.

That had the West Indies in some trouble at 80 for three in 34 overs. But Hinds, supported by his captain Jimmy Adams, made sure there were no further alarms as the fourth-wicket pair added a further 51 runs by the close. Adams was unbeaten on 19.

The county side added 123 runs in the morning session for the loss of two wickets before the declaration came.

Vince Wells and Ben Smith took their sixth-wicket partnership to 152 before Wells was stumped off leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo for 84 and then Smith edged a rising delivery from Curtly Ambrose to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs for 76.