WI tour of Aus: Brathwaite, Blackwood amongst runs as visitors suffer collapse against Victoria XI

After reaching 226 for three the Windies collapsed losing 5-31 on the opening day of their two-game match.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite carried on his Test form but the West Indies` woes were exposed again in another batting collapse in their tour game against a Victoria XI in Geelong on Saturday.

The Caribbean tourists, who were smashed by an innings and 212 runs in last week`s first Hobart Test, were looking to rediscover some confidence ahead of the second Test, starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day. 

But after reaching 226 for three the Windies collapsed losing 5-31 on the opening day of their two-game in oppressive heat. Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood were the only batsmen to pass 50 as the West Indies reached 303 for eight at stumps on day one. Denesh Ramdin finished 38 not out. 

Both teams toiled as the temperature reached over 44 Celsius (112 Fahrenheit), making it the Victorian provincial city`s hottest day in December on record. Blackwood described it as the most stifling playing conditions he has endured in a match. "I was so tired after running some threes," he told reporters. "At one point I was kind of losing concentration. "I had to put that behind me and just focus on each ball." 

Brathwaite, who scored 94 in his side`s miserable second innings of 148 in the first Test, picked up where he left off in Bellerive. The 23-year-old retired on 78 at tea, having faced 175 balls in a valuable hit-out. Blackwood scored 69 before he was trapped lbw by legspinner Jeremy Hart. 

Darren Bravo, who posted a century in the first Test, was rested but otherwise it was a full-strength batting order that misfired. Marlon Samuels, who was promoted to first drop in the absence of Bravo, scored 45 off 39 balls before paceman Jackson Coleman had him out edging. 

Hart, who is yet to play first-class cricket, snared four wickets for 93 and sliced through the middle order. It was the latest sorry story in what has been a woeful tour. "We got some starts... we just need to convert those starts now," Blackwood said. "We`ll just have to go back into the nets and continue to work hard. 

"We`re just putting in the work and hopefully it will pay off in the next Test match."