Windies regroup after Mehedi's brilliant show
The second day of the first of two Tests between Bangladesh and the West Indies at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram was marked by a brilliant batting display from Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who went on to pick up his maiden Test hundred to help Tigers put 430 on the board in the first innings.
After two early blows from Bangladesh's left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman, West Indies, however, managed to regroup at the latter stage of the Day, finishing with 75 for two on the board courtesy of skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Nkrumah Bonner's steady knocks.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. West Indies started the day brightly, removing overnight batsman Liton Das for 38 after Bangladesh resumed the day on 242 for five. Mehedi walked on to the pitch after that and it has since been a brilliant display of batting, barring some lapses and close calls. Mehedi strung a 67-run seventh-wicket stand with Shakib before the premier all-rounder fell prey to Rahkeem Cornwall before lunch. And when Shakib walked off the pitch after scoring a 150-ball 68, very few would have anticipated what was going to unfold next.
Bangladesh fans were probably left frustrated seeing the batsmen fail to convert their starts to a big score on the first day of the Test. But to the fans' delight, Mehedi played a sublime 168-ball 103, laced with 13 boundaries today. The right-hander was however lucky to have been dropped on 24 off a Jomel Warrican delivery.
The likes of Taijul Islam (18 off 72) and Nayeem Hasan (24 off 46) supported Mehedi well at the latter stage of the innings as Bangladesh posted a big total.
Mustafizur, who is the lone pacer in Bangladesh's XI, gave the Tigers early breakthroughs after West Indies came to bat following Tea. The left-armer kept troubling the batsmen right from the word go, hitting the pads of Windies' left-handed opener John Campbell on a few occassion with his angling in deliveries.
And it did not take long for Mustazfizur to be rewarded. He had Campblell trapped in front in the fifth over with a ball that was going to hit middle and leg after striking the batsmen on his pads. The left-armer then removed Shayne Moseley in the 11th over with a brilliant yorker that hit him on his boots. And even though West Indies opted to review, it only showed that the ball would have gone to hit middle and leg stumps as the umpire stayed with his original decision of leg-before and the visitors were left in a spot of bother at 24 for two.
Windies skipper Brathwaite and Bonner then regrouped and put up a 51-run stand to see the day through. With Brathwaite unbeaten on an 81-ball 49 and Bonner on 17 off 58, West Indies would like to start tomorrow from where they had left.
28.6 Overs; WI 75/2: A cutter from Mustafizur Rahman to end the day. Kraigg Brathwaite was caught surprised as the right-hander gets a thick edge and goes towards the third man region for a boundary. A lucky boundary for Brathwaite that takes him to 49 off 81 deliveries and also brings up the fifty-run stand between him and Nkrumah Bonner. That's Stumps on Day 2.
Windies rebuilding after Fizz's double strike
End of Over 25; WI: 63/2: West Indies seem to be rebuilding after Mustafizur Rahman struck twice early in the innings. Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite is on 40 off 66 deliveries while his partner Nkrumah Bonner is on 15 off 48 deliveries. And with four overs remaining on the day, the visitors would surely like to end it without any more hiccups.
16.6 Overs; WI 48/2: Nkrumah Bonner hits a Shakib Al Hasan delivery hard on the off-side and it strikes Shadman Islam, who was fielding silly point. Shadman has walked off the field after being attended by the team physio. Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan also walks off the field after completing the over. Shakib was seemingly in a bit of discomfort after he tried to stop a ball with his leg while fielding in the 16th over. Shakib suffered a groin injury during the Tigers' third and final ODI against the Windies last month and the premier all-rounder left the field after being in some discomfort with his groin. Let's just hope that the groin injury does not resurface.
Fizz's early double leaves Windies in a spot of bother
10.6 Overs; WI 24/2: A brilliant yorker from Mustafizur Rahman and hits Shayne Moseley directly on his boot. A huge appeal and given out by the umpire. West Indies challenge the umpire's decision and take a review. The review shows that there was no bat involved as the ball would have gone to hit middle and leg stump. Mustafizur, who has been troubling the Windies batsmen for a while now, gets his second wicket and leaves West Indies in a spot of bother. Shayne Moseley lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 2 (23b 0x4 0x6) SR: 8.7
Fizz gives Bangladesh early breakthrough
4.4 Overs; WI 11/1: A length ball from Mustafizur Rahman that was angling in towards the left-hander John Campbell. Campbell tries to flick it but misses it as the ball goes on to hit his pads. A huge appeal from Bangladesh players but the umpire gives not out. Bangladesh players review and it shows that the ball would have gone to hit leg stump. The umpire changes his original decision and Mustafizur draws first blood. John Campbell lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 3 (15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20
2:28pm: Mustafizur Rahman to start proceedings after Tea.
Brilliant Mehedi's maiden Test hundred helps Bangladesh score 430
It has been a very good day of Test for Bangladesh even though the West Indies started the day brightly by removing overnight batsman Liton Das early. Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who walked out to the crease after that, played a sublime knock and went on to bat till the end as he picked up his maiden Test hundred. The right-hander, who is said to have the potential to be a great all-rounder but has failed to live up to the hype many a time in his career, certainly showed what he is capable of during his 168-ball 103-run knock that features 13 boundaries. After Shakib Al Hasan's 150-ball 68, Miraz was well supported by the likes of Taijul Islam (18 off 72) and Nayeem Hasan (24 off 46) at the latter stage of the innings.
Bangladesh scored 430 for the loss of all wickets in 150.2 overs with West Indies to bat after Tea.
150.2; BAN 430 all out: Mehedi Hasan Miraz tries to go down the wicket and hit Rahkeem Cornwall over long-on but is caught near the boundary. That brings an end to a brilliant innings and is also the end of Bangladesh's first innings. And with it, the umpire calls for Tea.
Brilliant Mehedi picks up maiden Test hundred
147.4; BAN 427/9: Mehedi Hasan Miraz sweeps a Jomel Warrican delivery and takes a double, bringing up his maiden Test hundred. A brilliant knock from Miraz coming in to bat at number eight. The young right-hander had a few lapses and was also dropped once on 24 off Jomel Warrican delivery. However, the 23-year-old cashed in on the opportunity as he played some delightful shots all around the park on way to his maiden Test hundred. He also became the fourth Bangladesh batsman to have scored a Test hundred at number eight. Khaled Masud, Mahmudullah Riyad and Shohagh Gazi previously scored hundreds batting at number eight.
Nayeem departs after scoring 24
145.6 Overs; BAN 416/9: Nkrumah Bonner pitches one around the leg stump and Nayeem Hasan goes to his back foot but is cramped for room as the right-hander gets an inside edge. The ball then hits his pads before going on to hit the stumps. Nayeem departs after a 46-ball 24. Nayeem Hasan b Bonner 24 (46b 4x4 0x6) SR: 52.17
Nayeem, Mehedi star in fifty stand as Bangladesh cross 400
143.2 Overs; BAN 409/8: The fifty-run stand between Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan comes up. Miraz under edges a Nkrumah Bonner delivery and it goes past the keeper down the third man for a boundary.
142.1 Overs; BAN 400/8: A length delivery from Rahkeem Cornwall and Nayeem Hasan towards point and takes a single. That brings up 400 for Bangladesh. This is the fourth time that Bangladesh crossed that mark against the West Indies. Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who is on 84 off 142 deliveries, is being supported well by tail-ender Nayeem. With Nayeem playing sensibly on 16 off 34, Miraz would like to be the first one to get to the three-figure mark in this Test.
Taijul departs after a 44-run stand with Miraz
133.2 Overs; BAN 359/8: An angling in delivery from Shannon Gabriel and the ball was going down the leg side. But Taijul Islam decides to go through with his pull shot and only manages to get a faint edge. The wicket-keeper takes an easy catch, bringing an end to a good looking 44-run partnership between Taijul and Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Taijul walks off after scoring 18 off 72 deliveries. Taijul Islam c †Da Silva b Gabriel 18 (72b 1x4 0x6) SR: 25
130.5 Overs; BAN 350/7: A length ball from Rahkeem Cornwall and Taijul Islam works it towards fine leg and takes a double. 350 comes up for Bangladesh.
Miraz hits fifty after Lunch
123.6 Overs; BAN 336/7: Mehedi Hasan Miraz goes on his back foot and flicks a Rahkeem Cornwall delivery towards fine leg to take a double. And that also brings up his fifty off 99 deliveries. The right-hander, who is on 51, is now looking very comfortable as he is playing shots more freely. Bangladesh would want him to go on and get a bigger score.
We are back after Lunch.
Windies pick up Shakib, Liton but Tigers still on course for a good score
Bangladesh have lost both of their overnight batsmen -- Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das -- in this session on Day 2 of the first of two Tests against the West Indies at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today. Liton was the first one to fall early in the morning as the right-hander saw the top of his off stump hit after failing to connect a Jomel Warrican delivery while attempting to cut. That brought an end to a 55-run stand between Shakib and Liton. After that, premier all-rounder Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz strung another fifty stand but that too came to an end when Shakib fell prey to Rahkeem Cornwall in the 114th over after a 150-ball 68. The most disappointing part of this Test till now has been Bangladesh batsmen's failure to convert their fifty-run stands to a bigger one.
Miraz, who gave a few early chances, now looks settled as he is batting on 46 off 93 deliveries with Taijul Islam on 5 at the other end. Bangladesh, who are on 328 for seven in 120 overs at Lunch, added 86 runs in the morning session and will hope to score a few more before West Indies get to bat.
Shakib falls prey to Cornwall
119.6 Overs; BAN 328/7: Taijul Islam drives a Rahkeem Cornwall delivery towards cover and takes a single. And that will be Lunch on Day 2.
113.5 Overs; BAN 315/7: Rahkeem Cornwall gets the first wicket in this Test and he gets the most important wicket of Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib, playing away from his body, tries to cut the ball that got some extra bounce. The premier all-rounder could not keep the ball down as the fielder at point takes an easy catch. Shakib was trying to play the cut shot for a few deliveries and was not managing to connect. Maybe the left-hander should have taken it as a warning sign and leave the balls outside off. The cut shot is usually something Shakib plays really well and the champion all-rounder will be disappointed to have capitulated to a shot that has brought him a lot of runs in his career. The tail is now exposed as Shakib goes after a 150-ball 68, featuring five boundaries. Shakib Al Hasan c Brathwaite b Cornwall 68 (150b 5x4 0x6) SR: 45.33
Shakib, Mehedi star in fifty stand as Tigers cross 300
109.2 Overs; BAN 301/6: Shakib Al Hasan plays one towards fine leg off a Rahkeem Cornwall delivery and takes an easy two to bring up 300 for Bangladesh.
107.4 Overs; BAN 298/6: Shakib Al Hasan flicks one uppishly just wide of mid-wicket off a Kemar Roach delivery that was angling in towards him. He takes a single and that brings up the fifty-run stand between Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz. That's the fourth fifty-run stand in this game and this duo just needs to make the partnership bigger.
102.5 Overs; BAN 287/6: Mehedi Hasan Miraz is dropped on 24. Miraz slogs a Jomel Warrican delivery going across the line but the right-hander could only play it on his foot. The ball goes up after hitting Mehedi's foot and Shayne Moseley, who was standing at silly point, was busy moving away from the impact of the bat and only realizes later that the ball went up in the air. He dives to his right and gets his hands on the ball but fails to hold on to it. Miraz breathes a sigh of relief.
Shakib picks up fifty on his return to Tests
96.5 Overs; BAN 266/6: Shakib Al Hasan works a Jomel Warrican ball in front of square leg and takes a single. Fifty for Shakib, who made a comeback to Tests following a year-long ban imposed by the ICC in October, 2019. It will now be very important for the premier all-rounder, who is looking comfortable in the middle, to go on and make his innings bigger. Shakib is on 50 off 110 deliveries.
Liton falls early after bringing up fifty-stand with Shakib
92.2 Overs; BAN 248/6: Jomel Warican strikes! An angling in delivery from Warrican and Liton Das goes to his back foot, attempting to cut it but could not connect it. The ball goes on to clip the top of off stump. Liton, however, is standing on his ground as umpire is checking if the wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva removed the ball with his gloves. No, the replay shows that the ball hit the stumps and Liton has to go. An early breakthrough for West Indies and that's another premature end to a partnership that was looking good. Bangladesh batsmen fail once again to cash in and make a big partnership in the game.
90.1 Overs; BAN 243/5: Liton Das drives one towards covers off a Jomel Warrican delivery and takes a single. That brings a fifty-run stand between Liton and Shakib.
Can Bangladesh put a big total on the scoreboard? That is the big question as premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das resume proceedings on the second day of their first of two Tests against the West Indies at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
Bangladesh are on 242 for five with Shakib unbeaten on 39 and Liton on 34 not out after 90 overs.
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