Mehedi shines with maiden ton
Mehedi Hasan Miraz's maiden century helped Bangladesh post a big first-innings total of 430 before Mustafizur Rahman, the lone pacer in the side, claimed two early West Indian wickets to keep the hosts on top as they lead by 355 runs after the second day of the first Test.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was unbeaten on 49 and Nkrumah Bonner batting on 17 as West Indies ended the third day on 75 for two. It will be a huge challenge for the visitors as the pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram is expected to offer plenty for the four home spinners on the third day.
But it was Mehedi who was the standout for the Tigers. Coming in at number eight, Mehedi hammered 103 off 168 balls, striking 13 fours and more importantly, making sure Bangladesh go past the 400 mark which at one point looked unlikely.
Bangladesh lost both overnight batsmen inside the first session after resuming on 242 for five with Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das in their thirties.
Liton was the first to depart after adding the innings' third fifty-run partnership with Shakib. The right-hander was bowled trying to cut a ball from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican that was too close to the off stump.
Mehedi then joined Shakib who batted in compact manner in his first Test match back since completing a one-year ban from international cricket, completing a well-compiled fifty.
The 23-year-old at the other end looked solid and played a beautiful back-foot punch to pacer Shannon Gabriel to start proceedings. But Shakib was caught off a top edge at point playing away from his body against off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall after scoring 68 off 150 deliveries that also featured five boundaries.
After Shakib's departure, Mehedi took responsibility to score runs with the lower order as Bangladesh went for lunch on 328 for seven.
Taijul Islam gave valuable support and the pair frustrated the visitors, adding 48 runs for the eighth wicket before the left-hander departed for 18 off 72 balls. Mehedi reached his fifty off 99 balls in the company of Nayeem Hasan, with whom he added 57 runs for the ninth wicket.
Nayeem became Bonner's maiden scalp after scoring 24 when Mehedi was eight runs short of his hundred.
Mehedi eventually reached the milestone with a paddle sweep off left-arm spinner Warrican and punched the air in celebration.
In the final session, left-arm seamer Mustafizur bowled brilliantly as he managed to get the ball to dart back into the left-hander sharply along with his magical cutters.
He trapped John Campbell with a delivery angling into the left-hander's pad, which the on-field umpire denied initially. But the Fizz was confident and took the review which showed that the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.
Mustafizur then fired in an incoming yorker that hit the toe of Shayne Mosely and the umpire raised his finger, a decision upheld on review to leave the West Indies struggling on 24 for two.
Tigers' spin quartet in the form of Shakib, Taijul, Mehedi and Nayeem however did not get much assistance from the pitch.
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