Windies fight back after Bangladesh gain upper hand
A five-wicket haul from debutant Nayeem Hasan helped Bangladesh secure a 78-run lead on Day 2 of the first Test against the Windies, but the visitors fought back to claim five scalps in the third innings.
The hosts ended the day at 55/5, with Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun and Shakib Al Hasan back in the hut. It was a combined bowling effort from Kraig Braithwaite and his team, as they clinched five wickets in 17 overs to bring themselves back into the game.
Jomel Warrican and Roston Chase claimed two scalps each, as their skipper also chipped in with the wicket of Sarkar. The hosts now lead the Windies by 133 runs.
Bangladesh started the day on 315/8, as Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan looked to extend their unbeaten stand of 56 for the ninth wicket. However, the last two wickets fell within the first five overs of the morning session, capping the hosts' innings on 324.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Jomel Warrican claimed both the scalps, completing a four-wicket haul in his spell of 21.4 overs.
Windies struggled against spin from the get-go, failing to read the off-spin from Mehidy Hasan in the fourth over of their batting innings. Taijul Islam, Player of the Series in the recently concluded two-Test series against Zimbabwe, drew the first blood, as he trapped Kieran Powell LBW for a 20-ball 14.
With this scalp to his name, Taijul (34 wickets) overtook Mohammad Rafique (33 wickets) as the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in a calendar year.
Shai Hope followed one over later, as his woodwork was disturbed by Shakib Al Hasan off the first delivery he bowled after a three-month-long injury layoff.
The right-hander was dismissed off the first delivery of the 12th over, his skipper fell on the last – Brathwaite failed to get to the pitch of the ball as the delivery climbed on him and plucked an edge off his willow. It deflected off Mushfiqur Rahim's shoulder, but was caught safely by Sarkar at first slip.
Sunil Ambris and Roston Chase, who replaced Hope and Braithwaite in the middle, tried to steady the ship with a 46-run stand for the fourth wicket. However, just when it looked like the Windies were getting their foot into the door, Bangladesh struck back. Chase, who was dismissed by Nayeem's for a 43-ball 31, will go down as the teenager's first international wicket.
Ambris followed just 10 runs later, as the on-field umpire raised his finger to Nayeem's LBW appeal. The batsman decided to review the decision, only for the big-screen to flash two umpire-calls decisions back at him. The 25-year-old had to walk back after a tussle of 69 deliveries for 19 runs.
The Windies' struggle for a steady partnership finally ended after Shimron Hetmyer and Shane Dowrich tallied 92 runs for the sixth wicket. The duo took to a counterattacking approach to mitigate the situation, forcing Shakib to rejig his bowling options with their aggressive display.
It was Hasan who came to the home side's rescue, dismissing Hetmyer for 63 with a peach of a delivery in the 46th over. The ball was delivered at a perfect length, as it zipped away from the batsman, only to catch his glove along the way, forcing Rahim to take a fine catch behind the wickets.
Dowrich, who remained unbeaten for a 101-ball 63, continued to battle through, but got limited support from the other end. The Windies lost their remaining wickets for 66 runs, as Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Warrican and Shannon Gabriel were dismissed cheaply.
Three of the final four scalps fell to Nayeem, helping him become the youngest Test debutant to clinch a five-wicket haul. The visitors folded for 246 all-out, as the hosts clinched a valuable first-innings lead of 78.
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But, WIN has got us in a position that, they can chase the target basically slogging. Another 75 is required. Also, time in middle is key here, as the wicket tends to deteriorate lot in 2nd & particularly 3rd session - need to bat out tomorrow morning. If we could finish the day 4 down, should have been in commanding position, now probably just a head - Mushi has to get a 50 here. .
