Bangladesh's total of 181 was never likely to test the Caribbeans and they experienced no hick-ups as almost all their batsmen got runs.

Opener Sherwin Campbel hit 36, captain Brian Lara scored a run-a-ball 25 while Shivneraine Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 11.

Earlier, a gutsy 64 by opener Mehrab Hossain saved Bangladesh from an embarrassing collapse.

Hossain battled until the 43rd over for his innings-saving 85-run stand for the fifth wicket with Naimur Rahman, who made 45.

Courtney Walsh was the main West Indies destroyer, taking three wickets in his final spell for 14 runs. He took one wicket in the first spell when he broke through in the third over to remove Hossain's partner, Shahriar Hossain, for two when the score was eight.

Shariar prodded forward and got athick edge which travelled to Sherwin Campbell in the gully.

West Indies played without their main strike bowler, Curtly Ambrose, suffering from a shoulder injury.

The match started a half-an hour late due to morning showers, and when it did the players were buffeted by a strong cold breeze that forced the West Indies fielders to keep their hands in their pockets.

Perhaps that's why the West Indies fielders dropped three catches and fumbled with the ball all too often.

Bangladesh, playing its first World Cup tournament, won the toss and batted first but lost three wickets by the 17th over, including skipper Aminul Islam who got an edge off Reon King to be caught behind by Ridley Jacobs.Before going into the match, Islam said Bangladesh's target was to bat out for 50 overs. It batted for 49.2 overs.

Mehrab Hossain brought up the 50 with the first full-blooded front foot shot of the day, belting King over mid-on in the 21st over to take the score to 52 for three.

Hossain's innings contained fourboundaries and a towering six when he smashed a full pitched delivery by Phil Simmons straight back over the bowler's head in the 39th over.

Minhazul Abedin and Hossain took the total past 50 before Abedin also gave an edge to Jacobs off King in the 23rd over and the Bangladeshis were struggling at 55 for four.

Half way in the innings, Bangladesh was 62 for four. Niamur Rahman and Hossain then steadied the innings, although Rahman had a life in the 33rd over when he was dropped by Jimmy Adams at midoff.

The pair raised the 100 in the 36th over.

In the 43rd over, Hossain, desperate for every run, dropped his bat at the non-striker's end but returned to complete the two to take the total to 140. He was reunited with his bat but mistimed the next ball by Phil Simmons to give Shivnarine Chanderpaul at backward square a catch, ending a 129-ball innings with the score at 167.

Group B: Bangladesh vs West Indies

BAGLADESH

Shahriar Hossain c Campbell b Walsh 2 5 0/0

Mehrab Hossain cChanderpaul b Simmons 65 129 4/1

Akram Khan c lara b Dhillon 4 19 0/0

Aminul Islam c Jacobs b King 2 24 0/0

Minhajul Abedin c Jacobs b King 5 20 0/0

Naimur Rahman lbw b Walsh 43 71 4/0

Khaled Mahmud c Byran b Walsh 13 15 0/0

Khaled Mashud b King 4 6 0/0

Enamul Hoque c Lara b Walsh 4 7 0/0

Hasibul Hussain b Byran 1 3 0/0

Manjural Islam not out 0 2 0/0

Extras (lb7, w26, nb5): 38

Total (all out, 49.2 overs) 181

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Shahriar, 2.1 overs); 2-29 (Akram, 9.6); 3-39 (Aminul, 16.3); 4-55 (Minhajul, 22.2); 5-140 (Mehrab, 42.3); 6-158 (Naimur, 44.3); 7-166 (Mashud, 45.6); 8-179 (Mahmud, 48.1); 9-181 (Hoque, 48.4).

Bowling: Walsh 10-0-25-4 (4nb, 1w); Dillon 10-0-43-1 (6w); Bryan 9.2-0-31-1 (12w); King 10-1-30-3 (3w); Simmons 10-0-45-1 (1nb, 4w).

WEST INDIES

(Target: 183 from 50 overs) R B 4/6

SL Campbell c Manjural b Mahmud 36 70 4/0

RD Jacobs run out 51 82 4/1

JC Adams not out 53 82 6/0

BC Lara c Hasibul b Minhajul 25 25 4/0

S Chanderpaul notout 11 19 2/0

Extras (lb2, w5) 7

Total (3 wickets, 46.3 overs) 183

DNB: SC Williams, PV Simmons, HR Bryan, M Dillon, RD King, CA Walsh.Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Campbell, 20.3 overs); 2-115 (Jacobs, 32.2 overs), 3-150 (Lara, 38.6 overs).

Bowling: Hasibul 7-1-28-0 (3w); Manjural 7-1-15-0; Mahmud 8-0-36-1; Hoque 8-1-31-1 (1w); Rahman 9.3-0-43-0 (1w); Minhajul 7-0-28-1.

Result: West Indies win by seven wickets.

Man of the match: CA Walsh