Rafique rode his luck for a maiden Test ton

Mohammad Rafique's maiden Test century led Bangladesh to their highest Test total on a rain-shortened second day of the opening cricket Test on Saturday.

Dropped twice on 84, the Rafique was unbeaten on 103 to lift Bangladesh to 406-9 at the end of the day.

Mohammad Ashraful made 81 and Rafique had gritty support from the lower order, with the last two wickets combining to put on 120 so far.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was the unlikely pick of the West Indies attack, taking 3-51.

The Tigers' previous best total was 400, made against India in their inaugural Test four years ago, and their previous high against West Indies just 212.

Rafique, whose previous Test best score was 32, was dropped by Fidel Edwards at deep square leg boundary off Sarwan and in the next over offered a sharp return chance that bowler Edwards failed to hold.

With little play possible until after tea, Ashraful and Rafique continued to plunder the lacklustre West Indies attack.

Jermaine Lawson made the breakthrough for West Indies when Ashraful was adjudged lbw playing back and across to a full-length delivery that moved back.

West Indies might have expected a swift end to the agony, but Rafique and Tapash Baisya added a useful 33 at almost a run-a-minute for the ninth wicket.

Tapash was,caught and bowled by Sarwan for nine, but Rafique and Aziz continued to offer stout resistance that broke the spirit of the home team.

West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, (wkt), Tino Best, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Jermaine Lawson.