Tourists on top
Shakib Al Hasan was the lone man to battle on behalf of Bangladesh in between the two Edwards, Kirk and Fidel, placing West Indies in a pole position on the second day of the second and final Test yesterday.
The visitors led by 151 runs with three Tigers wickets remaining in the first innings as they closed the day precariously on 204 for seven after West Indies were bowled out for 355 in the second session.
In both innings, Shakib played a key role as his four wickets on the day gave him his eighth five-for in Tests while the 5-63 became his best bowling figures at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Within the hour, he walked out to save the Tigers from a collapse. His dispassionate 73 off 74 balls included nine boundaries but the innings picked up the Tigers from the quagmire of 59 for five and into near safety of avoiding the dreaded follow-on. West Indies however had the lion's share of possession in the game, thanks to Kirk's second Test century and an afternoon burst from Fidel, who took the first five wickets of the Bangladesh innings.
The more experienced of the duo, Fidel, had the more adverse effect on the Tigers, who were trying to get out of the short-ball threat by playing a lot of shots.
After Tamim Iqbal took off with three boundaries, Darren Bravo took a stunner at short-leg to remove the top-order mainstay for 14. While Imrul Kayes continued in his merry way against Kemar Roach, Shahriar Nafees looked outright rattled by Fidel's length. After being dropped on five at gully, he dinked one right into Bravo's lap. Rokibul Hasan and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim fell off successive Fidel deliveries in his next over, giving Shakib the hattrick ball to handle.
The all-rounder dug out the yorker but soon saw Fidel get his fifth when Imrul turned one straight to backward square-leg after an eventful 26-ball 29. In the ninth over, the Tigers were in disarray despite scoring 38 of their first 50 in boundaries; West Indies at this stage calmly moved to 29 for no loss on the opening day.
Shakib added 84 valuable runs with Naeem Islam for the sixth wicket but when he tried to work one Devendra Bishoo delivery for a single, the ball turned right through his bat and pad and ended his important vigil.
Naeem and Nasir Hossain shepherded the Tigers past the follow-on mark and almost ended the day unscathed but for a brain explosion just nine balls before stumps. The impressive Nasir, who was unbeaten on 34, ran two but had a huge misunderstanding with Naeem, who was stranded mid-pitch. The patient Naeem made 45 off 113 balls, an innings that was significant in its support for Shakib as well as the solidity he provided when the chips were down.
Earlier, Shakib removed the West Indies tail after Kirk reached his second Test century in three games. His 121 off 273 balls had 14 boundaries and two sixes, falling leg-before after an innings that spanned nearly four hours.
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