"A carnival of cricket" is the slogan emblazoned on all World Cup documentation, and certainly that description reflected the over-all atmosphere at Castle Avenue yesterday. Bangladesh, one of the game's emerging nations, took on the might of the West Indies, and did so with admirable conviction.

There was, however, nothing carnival about the match itself. This was unrelenting, competitive cricket. Any spectator naive enough to have expected exhibition-like performances must certainly have been disappointed.

In and event, the West Indies were set 183 to win, and reached the target in 46.3 overs for the loss of three wickets, thereby winning by seven wickets. A disappointment perhaps was the dismissal of star batsman Brian Lara for a modest 25 runs. When Bangladesh skipper Aminul Islam won the toss and elected to bat, an early end to proceedings looked in store. And when Courtney Walsh had Shahriar Hossain caught by Sherwin Campbell in his second over with only eight runs on the board, a quick finish was on the cards.

But Hossain's opening partner Mehrab Hossain had other ideas. He shared in 20 and 24-run stands, first with Akram Khan and then with Minhazul Abedin. He followed that up with an invaluable partnership of 85 with Naimur Rahman for the fifth wicket, before being spectacularly caught on the boundary by Shivnarine Chanderpaul off the bowling of Phil Simmons.

Mehrab Hossain's brave 64 came from 129 deliveries and included one six and four boundaries, while Rahman contributed an excellent 45 runs, his innings coming off 72 balls and including four fours. The only other batsman to reach double figures was Khaled Mahmud, who made 13.

Walsh bowled magnificently from the city end. His four wickets cost just 25 runs from his 10 overs, and he well deserved his subsequent man-of-the-match award.

Bangladesh made a few costly fielding errors, but they stuck to their guns admirably, and made the West Indies bat out all but 3.3 of their 50 overs. Their coach, the former Windies star Gordon Greenidge, must have been well pleased with his players.

Jimmy Adams top-scored for the West Indies, his undefeated 53 came off 83 balls and included six fours, while Ridley Jacobs hit 51 runs off 82 deliveries, with one six and five boundaries. Campbell, who with Jacobs put on 67 for the first wicket, faced 70 balls and hit four fours for a careful 36.

This was a hard-fought and competitive match, not even remotely like the exhibition cricket we see from the West Indies or any of the other Test countries normally play in Ireland.