Bangladesh continue stellar Test run, beat West Indies in first Test

Bangladesh continued their recovery in Test cricket with a stellar performance in the first Test against West Indies in Chittagong as they registered a 64-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The match was dominated by the spinners from both sides, but it took a magnificent century from Mominul Haque to tilt the balance in favour of the hosts. Spinners took 34 out of the 40 wickets to fall, with Bangladesh’ young off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and left-arm orthodox spinner Taijul Islam picking five-wicket hauls. For the West Indies, their disastrous tour of the sub-continent continued, having lost the Test series against India 0-2. Remarkably, this was Bangladesh’s first win against the West Indies at home.

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On a difficult pitch, Bangladesh opted to bat and they were immediately boosted by Mominul who slammed his sixth century at the venue. Mominul’s knock was Bangladesh’s saving grace but a middle order collapse saw them stumbling to 259/8. However, a 65-run stand for the ninth wicket saw Bangladesh reach 324, a good total on a crumbling wicket. However, on the first day, West Indies suffered a body blow when Shannon Gabriel was barred for the second Test due to him accumulating five demerit points for shoulder-barging Imrul Kayes. Gabriel was charged two demerit points and this is bad news for West Indies as he picked up 4/70 and troubled the Bangladesh batsman.

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In response, West Indies collapsed to 88/5 with Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan ripping through the top order. It took an attacking 92-run stand between Shimron Hetmyer (63) and Shane Dowrich (63). However, once the partnership ended, Nayeem, the 19-year-old offspinner ran through the lower order to finish with 5/61.

With the pitch continuing to help spinners, Bangladesh were bowled out for 125 with Devendra Bishoo taking 4/26. Only Mahmudullah offered any resistance with a gritty 31 off 46. In the second innings, Taijul was the chief destroyer with West Indies stumbling to 75/8. Bangladesh were given some nervous moments as Jomel Warrican and Sunil Ambris strung a 63-run stand for the ninth wicket. Both batsmen looked in great touch and it needed a miscue from Warrican off Mehidy Hasan to break the stand. Ambris fell LBW to Taijul as Bangladesh registered a famous win.

The next Test between the two sides is on November 30 in Mirpur. Bangladesh drew the previous Test series against Zimbabwe 1-1 and they will be aiming to win a series against the West Indies for the first time since 2009.