Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal cracked impressive half-centuries to help Bangladesh post 255-4 against the West Indies on the opening day of the first Test yesterday.
Wicketkeeper Rahim scored an unbeaten 68 in his first Test as captain and left-handed opener Tamim made 52 as Bangladesh batted steadily to consolidate their position after winning the toss on a good pitch.
Rahim added 79 runs for the fourth wicket with former captain Shakib Al Hasan (40) to prop up the innings after Tamim and Raqibul Hasan (41) fell in the afternoon session.
The Bangladesh skipper has so far hit five fours in his 144-ball knock for his seventh Test half-century.
Tamim batted patiently for more than a session before falling to a loose shot, caught by teenager Kraigg Brathwaite at mid-wicket, while attempting to slog-sweep part-time spinner Marlon Samuels.
He cracked five fours in his 141-ball knock for his ninth half-century in 21 Test matches.
“We batted well today [yesterday] and will try to bat as long as we can on Saturday [today]. I think a total of 320 or 350 will be very good on this pitch,” Tamim said.
Middle-order batsman Raqibul, returning to the Test side after more than a year, also fell in the same session, trapped leg before by seamer Darren Sammy after hitting three fours in his 92-ball knock.
The West Indies struggled on a first-day track which had little for fast bowlers and spinners.
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