Bangladesh’s Elias Sunny made a memorable seven-wicket debut against the West Indies in the rain-hit opening Test, which ended in a draw on the fifth and final day on Tuesday.
The left-arm spinner grabbed 6-94 in the first innings and 1-34 in the second as the West Indies finished at 100-2 after being set a 226-run target to win the match from 37 overs.
Opener Lendl Simmons made a 49-ball 44, while Kirk Edwards (28 not out) and Darren Bravo (24 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen when play was called off with 15 overs remaining.
No play was possible due to rain on Saturday and Sunday.
Man-of-the-match Sunny became the third Bangladeshi to bag six wickets in an innings on debut in the morning session as the West Indies were bowled out for 244 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh’s 350-9 declared.
“Sunny is a much better bowler than he showed in this Test as I have played with him in domestic tournaments. But what he did here as a debutant is extraordinary,” said Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim.
“We never declared an innings twice in a Test before and I think the West Indies will be under pressure ahead of the second match as we’ve gained a moral victory. I hope the wicket in the next match will also help our spinners.”
The hosts declared their second innings closed at their tea total of 119-3, with left-handed Shahriar Nafees (50) scoring his sixth Test half-century with the help of eight fours.
Openers Imrul Kayes (13) and Tamim Iqbal (37) were the other batsmen dismissed in the second session.
Seamers Darren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul and spinner Marlon Samuels each took one wicket.
“Bangladesh played well throughout the Test match. Their batsmen put 350 runs on the board and that gave them a chance to control the game,” said West Indies skipper Sammy.
“The Bangladeshi spinners bowled well and we could not play them well. I think we have to exercise a lot more patience and spend more time at the wicket. We hope to put in a much improved performance in the second match.”
The second and final Test starts in Dhaka on October 29. The West Indies earlier added 100 runs in 17 overs to their overnight total of 144-5, with Sammy smashing a brisk 43-ball 58 with the help of two sixes and eight fours for his maiden Test half-century.
Sunny, 25, took two of the five wickets to fall in the morning session while left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan took the last three wickets to finish with 3-53 off 18 overs.
Sunny, who took four wickets on Monday, struck in his second over when he had Samuels caught by Raqibul Hasan in the covers. Samuels could add just seven runs to his overnight score of 17.
Sammy and Carlton Baugh (30) then counter-attacked to add 60 runs in just seven overs for the seventh wicket before Sunny broke the stand when he bowled Baugh for his sixth victim.
The West Indies captain completed his half-century with a six off Sunny, but did not last long as he was bowled by Shakib after hitting the second six of his innings.
Shakib also dismissed Devendra Bishoo for no score in the same over.
