Khaled gets three quick wickets but Windies still likely to win Antigua Test

Things changed dramatically when Bangladesh pacer Khaled Ahmed got three wickets in quick succession to have the Tigers dreaming of an incredible comeback late on Day 3 of their first Test against West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday.

Chasing a paltry 84-run target, West Indies were reduced to nine for three as right-arm pacer Khaled ripped through the Windies' top order inside the first four overs of their second innings. But the hosts managed to somewhat recover as they reached 49 for three at the close of play, needing only 35 more to win on the fourth day of the Test.

Khaled struck twice in his first over. In the very first ball, he had Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who was the hero for the hosts for his 94 in the first innings, chase a ball down the legside and nick it back to the wicketkeeper. The pacer then followed it up with the wicket of Raymon Reifer in the penultimate ball of the same over after the batter tried to shoulder his arms to a delivery nipping back in that brushed off his gloves back to the keeper. 

Khaled then knocked off the stumps of Nkrumah Bonner in his next over with a delivery that kept low as Bangladesh players went wild in jubilation. 

However, with seven wickets in hand and Windies vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood and opener John Campbell unbeaten on 17 and 28 respectively, the hosts will back themselves to win the contest despite the initial slump. 

Bangladesh's chances look further slimmer if it is taken into consideration that it would require the Tigers to break a 140-year-old record to clinch a victory in this game as it was back in 1882 that Australia defended an 85-run target in a Test against England at the Oval -- still the lowest total ever defended in the fourth innings of a Test.

But the Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh did an excellent job in staging a fightback after being at risk of an innings defeat at the beginning of the day when they were left reeling at 109 for six in their second innings, still 53 runs short of Windies' first innings collection. 

Shakib and Sohan put up a 123-run seventh-wicket stand to help the Tigers take a decent enough lead of 83 runs before Khaled sparked life into the game for Bangladesh.