Mahmudullah completed a memorable debut Test, when he cruelly exposed the West Indies’ frailty to spin and bowled Bangladesh to a historic 95-run victory in the opening Test in St Vincent on Monday.
The 23-year-old off-spinner captured five for 51 from 15 overs, as West Indies, chasing 277 for victory, were dismissed for 181 in their second innings about 20 minutes before the scheduled close on the fifth and final day at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.
Shakib al-Hasan completed Bangladesh’s second-ever Test victory when he trapped Tino Best lbw for nine to finish with three for 39 from 28.1 overs.
PHOTO: AFP
The result means that Bangladesh lead the two-Test series 1-0.
Bangladesh’s victory, which came four and a half years after their solitary Test win against Zimbabwe in Chittagong, was made more remarkable because captain and main fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza spent the entire West Indies second innings off the field nursing a knee injury.
“I feel much better now following this victory,” said Mortaza.
“It was probably a blessing in disguise when we got bowled out [on Monday morning] which gave us more time,” he said.
“But we have good spinners like Shakib and Mahmudullah and they bowled really well, so special thanks to them and the rest of the bowlers because we were operating one bowler short because of my injury — and we still won,” Mortaza said.
Bangladesh restricted the hosts to 66 for two at lunch. Raqibul Hasan ran Dale Richards out for 14 with a direct hit before Shakib had Omar Phillips lbw for 14 to leave the Windies on 33 for two.
The Tigers could make no further headway, as West Indies captain Floyd Reifer joined Travis Dowlin, and they batted out the remainder of the session.
By tea, Bangladesh had a strong scent of victory, after Mahmudullah and Shakib shared four wickets in the afternoon session to leave the Windies on 128 for six.
Mahmudullah made the breakthrough to trigger a collapse that saw West Indies lose three wickets for 13 runs in 37 balls.
He tightened Bangladesh’s grip, when he trapped Reifer lbw for 19, had Dowlin caught at forward short leg for the same score and also had Chadwick Walton lbw for 10 to leave the home team on 82 for five.
But Bangladesh were put on their heels, when Darren Sammy joined Dave Bernard Jr and added 37 for the sixth wicket before he was caught at point for 19 off Shakib in the last half-hour before the break.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s lower order had been undermined by Darren Sammy, who finished with five for 70 and Kemar Roach, who ended with three for 67.
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