Jerome Taylor - File

DURHAM CITY, England (CMC):

Jerome Taylor got a boost of confidence, but the West Indies' bowling again failed to ease worries about their quality in their three-day, tour match against an MCC XI yesterday.

Taylor collected five wickets for 43 runs from 18 overs, as the MCC XI, choosing to bat, reached 234 for seven in their first innings when stumps were drawn on the opening day at the Racecourse Ground.

After they reduced the MCC XI to 152 for six, West Indies were stonewalled in the final period by a stand of 46, unbroken, between Shaaiq Choudhry, who was not out on 45, and Mali Richards, son of West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards, who was not out on 20.

Before lunch, Taylor had collected the wickets of Zoheb Sharif for eight and Ireland's left-handed World Cup opener William Porterfield for 21, after Fidel Edwards had made the initial breakthrough.

Edwards - using the new ball with Daren Powell - was stifling in the opening overs and struck when he had Paul Dixey caught at slip for a 20-ball duck.

Two-wicket burst

After an hour and 14 overs, the MCC XI had only reached 23 for one and a two-wicket burst by Taylor soon reduced them to 42 for three.

Taylor bowled Sharif and then trapped Porterfield lbw for 21, as the MCC XI went to lunch on 42 for three.

After the interval, Taylor snared all three wickets that fell between lunch and tea - James Morris for 51, veteran Sri Lanka opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for 18, and Laurie Evans for 30.

Morris had come to the wicket when Porterfield fell and he added 83 for fourth wicket with Evans before he was caught behind.

Jayasuriya, who is leading the MCC XI, batted at the unfamiliar position of six.

He joined Evans and inched the MCC XI closer to the 150-mark before he too, was caught in the slips off Taylor, who then struck close to the break to remove Evans, caught behind.

West Indies were setback, however, when Chris Gayle left the field shortly after lunch with a stomach strain and Ravi Rampaul visited hospital for a scan on a thigh injury later in the evening session.

Darren Sammy, who also bowled tightly throughout the day, got into the act after tea, when he bowled Simon Butler for 12.

The match is a warm-up for the West Indies ahead of the third Test, starting next Thursday at Manchester.

England lead the four-Test series 1-0, after the first Test at Lord's ended in a draw, and then won the second Test at Headingley by an innings and 283 runs.

SCOREBOARD

MCC XI 1st Innings

W Porterfield lbw b Taylor