DHAKA, Dec 4, 2024 (BSS) - Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed a five-wicket haul as Bangladesh beat West Indies by 101 runs in the second and final Test to draw the two-match series at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, today.

Chasing a victory target of 287, the hosts crumbled against Taijul to be all out for 185 and handed Bangladesh the third victory on overseas ground, the highest for them in a calendar year.

This was Bangladesh's first victory on West Indies soil since 2009 when they won all of the two Tests; that was the previous highest for a year on foreign soil.

Taijul finished with 5-50 and was complemented by the three-pronged pace attack with Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahud snaring two each, while Nahid Rana, who brought Bangladesh back into the game with 5-61 in the first innings, finished with 1-32.

Kavem Hodge top-scored for West Indies with 55, while captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored 43 before both of them fell to Taijul, who used the turn and bounce of the pitch expertly to leave the hosts baffled.

Taijul kick-started West Indies' rot by dismissing opener Mikyle Louise for 6 as the hosts chased a record target for a series sweep after winning the first Test by 201 runs.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed got the better of Keacy Carty, who added 14 and shared a 34-run partnership with Brathwaite for the second wicket.

Brathwaite looked to lead the side in astute fashion before falling to Taijul while defending a turning delivery. Mahmudul Hasan Joy held onto a tough catch with an athletic effort to remove the captain, who hammered two fours and one six in his 63-ball knock.

Alick Athanaze was also baffled by a turning delivery to be out for 5, and Taijul then edged the side closer to victory, trapping Hodge leg-before.

Taskin came back in his spell to get another prized scalp of Justin Greaves, who smashed a match-winning century in the previous Test. This time he made 20.

Taijul then again got one to turn past Joshua Da Silva (12) to bring up his 15th five-for in Test cricket.

Hasan Mahmud struck twice in his one over before Nahid Rana fittingly finished the game by uprooting the stump of Shamar Joseph.

Jaker Ali Anik missed out on his maiden ton by nine runs earlier on Day 4 but played with flair and authority to leave the hosts in a dumbfounded state.

His 106-ball 91 included eight fours and five sixes and, most importantly, helped Bangladesh set a target that was well beyond West Indies.

West Indies chased down 212 for the highest successful chase in the fourth innings on this ground in 2003. In fact, only twice have teams chased 180-plus successfully on this ground.

Jaker's 91, also his career best and his third straight fifty-plus knock in as many matches, as only the second Bangladeshi batter, helped the side put up 268 in the second innings before being all out.

Bangladesh took an 18-run lead in the first innings after bowling out West Indies for 146, thanks to fast bowler Nahid Rana's maiden five-for (5 for 61 runs).

Resuming the day at 193-5, Bangladesh received a setback early in the day when they lost overnight batter Taijul Islam and experienced campaigner Mominul in the consecutive two overs to be left at 211-7.

Mominul was dismissed for a duck for the second consecutive time in this Test, which took his duck tally to 18, the highest by any Bangladeshi batter. Interestingly, he has 13 centuries, also the highest by a Bangladeshi batter.

The lead was 222 at that moment, but Jaker Ali came up with whirlwind batting, much to the dismay of the Caribbean bowlers, to pace the innings. He scored 53 off 33 balls off the last 57 runs made by Bangladeshi batters after the dismissal of Mominul.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach, who was unable to bowl on Day 3 after being hit by a bouncer of Nahid Rana, took three of the five wickets on Day 4. He finished with 3-36 from 10 overs. Alzarri Joseph also ended with 3-77 while Shamar Joseph had figures of 2-80.
The two teams will next play a three-match ODI series, which will be followed by the same number of T20 Internationals.