Shakib Al Hasan claimed an early West Indies scalp, after solid batting from the tail-enders allowed Bangladesh to reach 238 in their first innings in the opening Test on Friday.
At the close, a depleted West Indies had reached 15 for one in reply, after the tourists were dismissed about half an hour before the scheduled close on the second day at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.
Shakib then gave Bangladesh a boost, when he had opener Dale Richards, playing his first Test innings, leg before wicket for 15.
PHOTO: AP
This followed a fight-back from the Bangladesh tail, after a meltdown of the visitors’ top order.
New Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza hit the top score of 39, Mushfiqur Rahim made 36, and Shahadat Hossain got a career-best 33 to add some beef to Bangladesh’s total.
Kemar Roach was the most successful West Indies bowler with three wickets for 46 runs from 23 overs.
PHOTO: AP
Dave Bernard Jr captured two for 30 from 11 overs and Tino Best took two for 58 from 17 overs.
“I thought we bowled well, particularly Kemar and Tino, who hit their lines and lengths aggressively,” said Floyd Reifer, captain of the makeshift West Indies team which was hastily-assembled after a first-team boycott. “I don’t think we let them off the hook. The pitch is the kind that anyone who comes in and puts their head down, they can get runs. At 121 for six, you would still expect someone to put up a partnership and it was just a matter of us sticking to the basics.”
“We are now looking to bat for the entire third day,” he said. “I have asked the guys to bat in partnerships and this is what we are looking for, consistent batting down the order.”
After Bangladesh slid to 149 for seven at tea, Mushfiqur added 23 for the eighth wicket with Mortaza before he was run out in a mix-up with his captain.
Mortaza then added 35 for the ninth wicket with Shahadat before he was caught behind off Roach.
More frustration came for West Indies, when Shahadat started to play his strokes and put on 31 for the last wicket with Rubel Hossain, before off-spinner Ryan Austin had him caught behind to claim his first Test wicket.
Before lunch, Bangladesh had crumbled to 121 for six after they had continued from their overnight total of 42 without loss.
Bangladesh play two Tests, three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international on their five-week tour of the Caribbean.
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