BSS
  02 Dec 2024, 13:13
Update : 02 Dec 2024, 15:02

Reckless batting show keeps Bangladesh at bay

DHAKA, Dec 2, 2024 (BSS) - West Indies put them in favourable position to take full control of the second and final Test by capitalizing on Bangladesh's perpetual reckless batting show at Sabina Park in Jamaica today.

After bowling out Bangladesh for just 165 runs, West Indies, led by its captain Kraigg Brathwaite, survived a tricky session to reach 70-1 at stumps on Day 2.

The hosts are now trailing by 95 runs but looked all set to take a first innings lead as Brathwaite is still in the crease with 33 from 113 deliveries with Keacy Carty on 19.

For Brathwaite it was his 86th Test in a row, that surpassed the mark of 85 by fellow Barbadian Sir Garfield Sobers as the most consecutive Tests played for the West Indies. And he made the occasion more memorable by playing a dogged knock in a session when Bangladesh fast bowler got all kinds of help a pitch could offer.

Thanks to his stubbornness, West Indies were able to put them on top.

Bangladesh got only success through fast bowler Nahid Rana who clocked 150 kph at regular basis in a helpful pitch to leave the Caribbeans in tatters. He dismissed opener Mikyle Louis for 12, with an outside edge after bowling a delivery that was 148 kph.

But Brathwaite negotiated Rana astutely to see off the last hour without any fuss.

Earlier, Bangladesh failed to keep their promise to rectify the batting errors. They kept doing the same mistakes in similar fashion. And the first innings of the second Test was no exception.

Opener Shadman Islam was the top-scorer with 64 while stan-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 36.

Fast bowler Jayden Seals had taken four wickets, conceding just five runs after bowling 15.5 overs. His economy rate 0.31 is the best in the history amongst the bowlers who bowled at least 90 deliveries in Test cricket.

Resuming the day at 69-2, Bangladesh lost four wickets in quick succession before stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam hung around for more than one hour to deny the West Indian attack causing more mayhem.

The Day 1 was cut short by soggy outfield, allowing only 25 overs to play. Shadman Islam who survived twice due to a butter-fingered West Indies fielder on truncated Day 1, struggled to counter the swing the Caribbean fast bowler produced in helpful condition.

But he somehow managed to stay in the crease. West Indies found success through Shamar Joseph in the 14th over of the day when he rattled the stump of Shahadat Hossain Dipu for 22.

Another fast bowler Jayden Seals induced an outside edge of Liton Das to remove him for just 1 in the immediate next over before Joseph dismissed Jaker Ali Anik, also for 1, after the batter got an outside edge, trying for a pull shot.

Joseph found his third success in his next over by ending Shadman's painful vigil in the crease as he edged a delivery behind after failing to deal with the late swing.

Shadman played 137 balls for his 64, a knock laced with five fours and one six.

After losing four wickets for 15 runs in just seven overs, Bangladesh raised the prospect of being all out in just one session.

But Miraz and Taijul resisted with the combination of luck and pluck to help Bangladesh add 41 runs for the seventh wicket.

Alzarri Joseph broke the partnership after the lunch session, taking out Taijul for 16.

Seals then came up with fire to claim the rest of the three wickets, denying Bangladesh to go past 200-run mark.

Shamar Joseph ended with 3-49 while senior fast bowler Kemar Roach who claimed two wickets on Day 1, couldn't add any to his tally.

Bangladesh lost the first Test by 201 runs.