Bangladesh’s spinners grabbed two quick wickets with the second new ball to leave the second and final Test against the West Indies evenly poised after the opening day on Saturday. The West Indies were strongly placed at 226-3 before reaching 253-5 in their first innings at stumps, with Kirk Edwards unbeaten on an impressive 71 and Marlon Samuels 16 not out.
Off-spinner Nasir Hossain, who shared the new ball, struck a vital blow when he had Shivnarine Chanderpaul (18) caught behind before left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan bowled nightwatchman Kemar Roach for six. “The match is in a very exciting position and anyone can gain the upper hand from here,” said Bangladeshi batsman Shahriar Nafees.
“They got a good start, but at the end of the day we fought back. The wicket was very flat. There was no movement and the fast bowlers did not get anything extra from the pitch.” The West Indies looked set to make the most of winning the toss on a good pitch as they batted steadily for more than two sessions, with Kieran Powell (72) and teenager Kraigg Brathwaite (50) scoring maiden Test half-centuries.
Powell, playing only his second Test, put on 100 runs for the opening wicket with Brathwaite and 55 for the second wicket with Edwards before being bowled by debutant left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo. Powell cracked 10 fours in his 150-ball knock. “It’s a proud moment for me as it is my first half-century. I’m very disappointed that I missed a hundred, but still I have contributed to my team and gave a good start,” said Powell.
“We still have two very capable batsmen at the crease. Both Samuels and Edwards are in good form and if they can start well tomorrow we will be in a good position.” Edwards continued to defy the Bangladeshi attack and reached his half-century in the last session when he swept Shuvo for four and then hit Nasir over long-on for the first six of the match. Edwards, who scored a century on Test debut against India at home in July, has so far hit one six and eight fours in his 168-ball knock.
Bangladesh struggled for success on a first-day track which had little in it for the bowlers, before taking three wickets in the closing session, with Nasir taking two and Shakib one. Nasir got his maiden Test scalp when he trapped Darren Bravo (12) leg-before and then accounted for Chanderpaul. Shakib finished with 1-31 off 23 tight overs.
Brathwaite, who turns 19 in December, fell soon after completing his first half-century in three Tests, caught by Imrul Kayes at gully while trying to steer seamer Rubel Hossain in the fourth over after lunch. The tourists made two changes from the side that drew the opening Test in Chittagong, bringing in Powell and fast bowler Roach in place of injured Lendl Simmons and Ravi Rampaul.
Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, who took seven wickets on debut in Chittagong, was ruled out of the match due to an upset stomach. He was replaced with Shuvo.
