Windies, Bangladesh trade blows in enthralling two days

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC):

A dramatic second day of the opening Test saw Bangladesh stage a late fightback with the ball, but West Indies maintained the upper hand before rain and bad light forced an early close at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

After dismissing Bangladesh for 272, the tourists reached 134 for four by 4:35 p.m. local time, trailing by 138 runs with six wickets in hand.

The day unfolded in two distinct phases. First came a superb West Indies bowling effort, led by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, which triggered a dramatic Bangladeshi collapse. Then the visitors produced a resilient, if somewhat fortunate, batting response before a spirited home fightback in the final session.

Bangladesh’s stunning collapse

Resuming on a comfortable 213 for three, Bangladesh appeared poised to post a formidable first-innings total.

However, their innings unravelled quickly as they lost their last seven wickets for just 59 runs.

Left-arm spinners Jomel Warrican and debutant Joshua Bishop were the chief architects of the collapse, sharing seven wickets between them.

Bishop (2-61) made the breakthrough when he dismissed centurion Shadman Islam (105), who edged to slip shortly after reaching his third Test hundred.

The decline continued when Towhid Hridoy, who had retired hurt on the opening day, survived just two deliveries before playing a reckless shot that resulted in his stumps being shattered.

Warrican (5-53) then ripped through the lower order, extracting a sharp turn to remove Mehidy Hasan Miraz before Shamar Joseph accounted for Nayeem Hasan and Hasan Mahmud in quick succession.

Warrican fittingly ended the innings by claiming the final two wickets from consecutive deliveries, leaving Bangladesh shell-shocked.

Campbell’s luck, Chanderpaul’s grit

In reply, West Indies openers John Campbell and Brandon King benefited from some good fortune.

Campbell, in particular, enjoyed two crucial reprieves. He was dropped on five at point by Nayeem Hasan and again on 22 when Shoriful Islam failed to hold a difficult return catch.

The left-hander capitalised on those chances, batting with aggressive intent and putting the Bangladeshi spinners under pressure.

King (15) was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session, edging a Hasan Mahmud delivery that moved away to substitute wicketkeeper Jaker Ali.

Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul then shared a 61-run second-wicket partnership, looking increasingly comfortable before bad light brought an early end to the second session, shortly after Campbell struck Mehidy for a six and a four off successive deliveries.

Shanto’s stunner, Taijul’s double blow

Following a rain delay, the final session saw momentum swing dramatically between the two sides.

Just when West Indies appeared to have weathered the worst of the conditions, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto produced a moment of brilliance in the field.

Mehidy, returning after the break, found Campbell’s outside edge and Shanto, stationed at slip, flung himself to his left to complete a stunning one-handed catch, dismissing the opener for a well-compiled 54.

That breakthrough sparked a mini-collapse.

Taijul Islam, who had been probing throughout the day, struck twice in the space of four deliveries.

First, Mominul Haque, fielding at silly mid-off, produced a superb low catch to dismiss Kavem Hodge for seven.

Three balls later, Amir Jangoo’s mistimed sweep was comfortably taken by Tanzid Hasan at deep square leg.

From a commanding 90 for one, West Indies had suddenly slipped to 97 for four, and the hosts sensed an opportunity to seize control.

However, Chanderpaul (43) and Justin Greaves (15) showed commendable resolve, combining in an unbeaten 37-run partnership to guide West Indies to stumps without further loss and preserve their advantage heading into the third day.