The Report by Mohammad Isam
West Indies’ fast bowlers rocked Bangladesh, again, reducing them to 50 for 6 in the final hour of play on the second day. This after Kraigg Brathwaite’s seventh Test hundred secured West Indies a 363-run first-innings lead.
Kemar Roach, who had wrecked Bangladesh in the first innings, did not take the field in the second because of a hamstring injury, but Shannon Gabriel blew the visitors away with sheer pace and bounce.
Gabriel, fresh from a 20-wicket series against Sri Lanka, dismissed Tamim Iqbal soon after the opener had become the first Bangladesh player to 4000 Test runs. One ball after Tamim’s dismissal, Mominul Haque was bowled by a Gabriel shooter that snuck through his defences.
Jason Holder, who took the new ball with Gabriel due to Roach’s absence, then plunged into the action. He kept moving the out swinger late from Liton Das, who resisted for a while, but in the seventh over, he went after another out swinger, only to edge to Brathwaite at first slip.
Gabriel then blazed one past Mushfiqur Rahim’s defensive prod, with the ball cutting back after pitching on a good length. Shakib Al Hasan then became his fourth victim, squared up to one that snaked away from him. Mehidy Hasan, who had earlier bowled well to give Bangladesh something to cheer about, became Holder’s second wicket when he edged a short ball.
The action wasn’t as dramatic when the hosts started the day on 201 for 2. They added 205 runs in 69.3 overs, Brathwaite leading the way with a polished ton. Having begun the day on 88, Brathwaite first took 20 balls to reach the milestone and then let the others do the bulk of the scoring.
He was in control of most of his shots, however, and only offered one chance – Liton Das dropping him at leg gully when he was on 110 though it was a tough opportunity.
Brathwaite added 52 runs for the third wicket with Devendra Bishoo before the night watchman lost his off stump to Kamrul Islam Rabbi. The second session saw West Indies lose their way to Bangladesh’s spinners. Mehidy removed Roston Chase leg-before and had Holder caught at short-leg, while Shakib took the wickets of Brathwaite, caught at cover, and had Shane Dowrich caught at silly mid-off.
Roach, though, struck six fours and a six in his breezy 33, before falling leg-before to Mehidy, while Hope made 67 off 127 balls. Debutant Abu Jayed took Hope’s wicket – caught at fine leg – before removing Gabriel to wrap up the West Indies innings. Mehidy and Jayed took three wickets each while Shakib took two wickets.
Summarized scores: Bangladesh 43 and 62 for 6 (Gabriel 4-36) trail West Indies 406 (Brathwaite 121, Hope 67, Jayed 3-84) by 301 runs